Board of Trustees
Forest Foundation Philippines is governed by a Board of Trustees, who are all united in their passion to protect and conserve our forests.
Ms. Edwina Garchitorena
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees
Ms. Edwina Garchitorena works on matters of science-based and participatory coastal resource management, as well as species and habitat conservation. She helps foster community involvement in decision-making for sustainable natural resource management and resilience. Her aim is to support the development of more effective natural resource conservation policies and management mechanisms in the Philippines, which are founded on science and stakeholder involvement, both at the national and local levels. She has worked with communities in both marine and terrestrial protected areas in the Philippines, as well as with the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources. She has also contributed to a number of environmental bills and laws under the Senate Committee on Environment in the Philippines. She currently leads the ZSL Philippine Program as Country Director.
Hon. Juan Miguel Cuna
Vice Chairperson
Hon. Juan Miguel Cuna is the Acting Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). He is a Career Executive Service Officer (CESO I) who has risen through the ranks within the agency. Aside from this, Hon. Cuna served as a law professor at the Arellano Law Foundation and as a Director IV, Legal Officer, of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office under the Office of the President from 1998 to 2001.
Ms. Maria Aurora Francisco-Tolentino
Secretary and Treasurer
Ms. Maria Aurora Francisco-Tolentino is an independent consultant providing training, technical assistance, and expert advice to non-profit organizations locally and internationally. She previously served as Chief Executive of the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium. She also served as Executive Director of the Philippine Business for Social Progress until 1998, helping the Foundation earn the 1992 Award for Excellence in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management.
Mr. Dennis Joseph Salvador
Chairperson of the Programs Committee
As Executive Director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), Mr. Dennis Joseph Salvador is responsible for managing the organization and its efforts to save the Philippine Eagle and the rainforest. He has been part of PEF since 1990, garnering numerous services awards, and accruing experience and skill in strategic planning, policy implementation, and program design.
Mr. Taylor Scott Fincher
Trustee
Mr. Taylor Scott Fincher is a career U.S. diplomat serving as Acting Deputy Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines. As a Foreign Service Officer, he supports the Embassy’s diplomatic and consular work, contributing to the advancement of U.S.-Philippine relations and the delivery of consular services.
Hon. Frederick Go
Trustee
Hon. Frederick Go currently serves as the Acting Secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF) and the lead of the Marcos, Jr. administration’s economic team. Prior to this, Secretary Go served as Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) where he ensured the effective integration, coordination, and implementation of the administration’s investment and economic policies and programs. In his capacity, Secretary Go also headed the Economic Development Committee (EDCom), supervising and monitoring developments in key government agencies. Before he was called into public service, Secretary Go led numerous successful business enterprises where he was Chairman, Vice-Chairman, President, CEO and Director of six listed companies and several corporations in various industries including media, retail, real estate, food, banking, finance, airline, airport, petrochemicals, and power over a span of 35 years.
Ms. Tanya Hotchkiss
Trustee
Ms. Tanya Hotchkiss is one of the founding members of the Hotchkiss Foundation. From 2012 onwards, she served as its Executive Director and the School Administrator of the Hotchkiss Learning Center, focusing on the foundation’s island conservation program and the school’s Eco-Scouting program in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur. She also served as the Fundraising Officer of the Philippine Eagle Foundation from 2003 to 2006. Ms. Hotchkiss is currently the Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Cantilan Bank, a rural bank that caters to over 100 underbanked communities in Mindanao.
Leadership
Atty. Jose Andres Canivel
Executive Director
Atty. Jose Andres “Onggie” Canivel has more than 15 years of experience in environmental advocacy and policy development. He previously served as Development Assistance Specialist of the Office of Energy and Environment of USAID Philippines and Executive Director of Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC).