Domingo R. Tolentino Jr.

Domingo “Dominic” R. Tolentino, Jr. took his Oath of Office before President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as Assistant Secretary (Asec) of the Department of Trade and Industry, Regional Operations Group, at the Malacañang Palace on 03 March 2020.

Asec Tolentino lives by PRRD’s motto “by working together, we build a nation where citizens are empowered.” and former DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, “more grassroot approach in programs and livelihood intervention to widen the reach of the marginalized sectors providing skills, jobs, business.”

Asec Dominic, as he is fondly called, is designated by virtue of Department Order 20-52, tasking him as the following major programs of this administration;

1. National Coordinator, Livelihood Seeding Program – Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (LSP-NSB)
2. National Coordinator, Diskwento Caravan
3. ROG In-Charge, Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program

Prior to his appointment as Assistant Secretary, he served as the Director of the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau of the DTI-Consumer Protection Group, in which he ensured regulation of importation as provided by trade agreements and conduct market surveillance and enforcement to ensure compliance with trade and industry law, among others.

Further, Asec Tolentino is a former Director of the Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau, the office that develops advocacies and policies to ensure a fair marketplace for both the consumers and businesses. He is responsible for heightening consumer awareness program and bringing basic necessities and prime commodities to the Barangay and likewise the Serbisyo sa Barangay. He handles policy and advocacy programs. Asec. Tolentino hails from Cavite City and comes from the Tolentino Clan.

He is a known to be a seasoned operations management executive with expertise in Marketing, Promotion, Local Government Administration, Planning, Urban Development, Project Management, Trade and Industry, Consumer Policy, Advocacy and Protection.

Before joining the DTI, he spearheaded the Resettlement Program to uplift the living conditions of the disadvantaged people of the community, developed, and implemented a comprehensive and integrated housing development and resettlement programs, the Chief of the Housing Development and Resettlement Department and former Cavite Majority Leader of the Cavite Provincial Legislator and National Chairman of Board Member League.

He is part of the economic team who is responsible for lowering the inflation by saturating the rice in the market. Former Head Executive Assistant of the Department of Labor and Employment and also a former Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Trade Tourism.

He represented the Philippines during the ASEAN Regional Forum on the Promotion of Sustainable Consumption and one of DTI’s representatives to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting on Digital Marketing and Promotion held in Varas, Chile last 20-26 August 2019. Also in the ASEAN-USPTO Workshop on Intellectual Property Enforcement, Public Awareness and Consumer Behavior last 07-09 November 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Leonila T. Baluyut, DBA

Dr. Leonila T. Baluyut is currently the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Regional Operations Group (ROG) of the Republic of the Philippines. ASec Baluyut has a strong background in service operations management and in business development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). She has made significant contributions to the growth and development of MSMEs across the country.

A distinguished Career Executive Service Officer (CESO), Dr. Baluyut has risen through the ranks of public service. Prior to her current role, she served as Provincial Director and eventually, the Regional Director of DTI Region 3 (Central Luzon).

Asec. Baluyut holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree, graduated Magna Cum Laude. She finished her Master in Business Management at the University of the Philippines. Asec. Baluyut has been a consistent academic scholar from high school through her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree at the Angeles University Foundation. She has gained her certification on Innovation from the National University of Singapore, and completed her Executive Leadership Programs (ELP) at the Asian Institute of Digital Transformation, the Civil Service College of Singapore, and the Nanyang Technological University. Such ELPs have equipped her with the global perspective and leadership skills necessary for driving economic development, innovation and MSME development in the Philippines.

ASec Leny is “The Outstanding Alumni (TOA)” year 2022 of the Angeles University Foundation. She is a two-time Philippine Civil Service Commission PAG ASA Awardee, and a recipient of the DTI National SPRINTs (System on Performance Rewards & Incentives) Award.

As an Assistant Secretary, she supports the DTI Secretary & ROG Undersecretary in executing strategies to promote sustainable economic growth through trade and industry development.

Emma C. Asusano

Before joining public service, Dir. Emma C. Asusano had a brief stint with the banking industry. She began her career at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), where she steadily rose through the ranks. She served as Provincial Director of DTI-NCR and later as OIC-Regional Director.

Dir. Asusano also served as Chief of Staff to former DTI Undersecretary for Regional Operations Group, Zenaida C. Maglaya, while concurrently managing key programs, namely: Negosyo Center (NC) and Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Project – Livelihood Enhancement Support (INREMP-LES 2), as Program Manager and Project Director, respectively.

In April 2022, she was designated as OIC of the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED). Her leadership and dedication led to her promotion as Director IV in September 2023.