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Desctiption_SANGVORN
SANGVORN LIPATAPANLOP
President
MEGA KULARATNE
First Vice President
DESCRIPTION_MEGA
DESCRIPTION_LEVY
LEVY V. ESPIRITU
Second Vice President
Levy V. Espiritu is one of the founders and the current Chairman and CEO of DATEM Incorporated. He served as President of the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) in 2010 to 2011, and is the incumbent Executive Director of the International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors’ Associations (IFAWPCA).
His company, DATEM Inc., a quadruple A construction company, was founded in 1984 by a group of professionals, highly trained in construction. The group envisioned a construction company that could give its clients total value-engineered service in terms of quality, time and cost through productive and efficient construction methodologies. Levy and his team pioneered one of the major breakthroughs in the Philippine construction industry when they introduced the precast system in the 90s.
Three decades later, the founders are now leading an organization of trailblazers with over 11,000 personnel, having evolved to become a diversified construction firm building Metro Manila’s remarkable structures and architectural marvels today.
On the strength of over 31 years of construction experience and a reliable track record, The Company has recently diversified its businesses well beyond construction. In 2013, the company has expanded into affordable housing and bulk water and wastewater treatment.
Levy is unwavering in his belief that the employees are the greatest assets of DATEM. He lives by the mantra of “Passion for our work, compassion for our People.” From his experience as a young engineer, he has seen firsthand the difficulties that the workers face, and he desires to help others overcome these obstacles by way of training, values formation, and by instilling a culture of “malasakit” (compassion). “Malasakit” has always been his favorite among the company’s core values that include Excellence, Integrity, Innovation, and he enjoins all DATEM employees, partners and stakeholders, to instill this in their day-to-day operations.
DESRCIPTIN_LIZA
LIZA NGAMTRAKULPANIT
Secretary General
Ms. Liza Ngamtrakulpanit is a distinguished leader in the Asian construction industry, known for her strategic vision and commitment to regional development. As Secretary General of the International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors’ Associations (IFAWPCA), she fosters collaboration among member nations, promotes best practices, and drives innovation in construction standards.She also serves as a Board Member of the ASEAN Constructors Federation (ACF), where she contributes to policy dialogue and regional integration, strengthening cross-border partnerships and enhancing ASEAN’s construction competitiveness.
In Thailand, Ms. Ngamtrakulpanit is President of the Thai Contractors Association, advocating for contractor interests, supporting capacity-building, and representing the national industry globally. As Vice President of the Thai Women Engineering Association, she champions gender inclusivity and professional growth for women in engineering.
Her corporate role as Assistant Managing Director of WALTZEN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. provides practical insight that bridges industry operations with strategic governance.Her academic background includes:
* B.S. in Civil Engineering, Tufts University
* M.S. in Project Management, Northwestern University
* Master in Public and Private Management, NIDA
With integrity, innovation, and inclusive leadership, Ms. Ngamtrakulpanit continues to shape the future of construction across Asia and the Western Pacific, advancing sustainable development and empowering industry professionals.
DESCRIPTION_GAYAN
GAYAN TUDAWE
PRO Secretary General
DESCRIPTION_AUGUSTO
AUGUSTO F. MANALO
Executive Director
Augusto Festejo Manalo is the President & CEO and one of the owners of J.E. Manalo & Co., Inc. A quadruple A by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB). The company specializes Civil Engineering works.
J.E. Manalo & Co., Inc. in existence since 1969 and founded by Mr. Augusto Manalo’s father - Mr. Justo E. Manalo.
From its humble beginnings as a pile driving contractor, the company grew to become one of the foremost local contractors in the EPC of ports and harbors and marine works.
He also served as the President of Association of Contractors Equipment Lessor (ACEL) in 1998 to 1999. He was also former President of the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) from 2011 to 2012. He also served as President of the President of Rotary Club of Pasig East from 1995-1996.
He is currently the Chairman of Construction Manpower Development Foundation (CMDF), also currently the Vice President of Philconstruct Events Exhibitions & Conferences Corporation (PEECC), Board of Trustees / Executive Director for IFAWPCA Inc. and the current Chairman of Asean Constructors Federation (ACF).
Mr. Manalo graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in University of the Philippines, Diliman Quezon City in 1981. And although he is not an Engineer by profession, he has participated in many seminars and workshops sponsored by the PCA, ACEL and CMDF, such as the Construction Management Course given by the Asian Institute of Management in partnership with the CMDF.
CV-Rapporteur
DESMOND L. HILL
Rapporteur
MR. JOHN TONG
Legal Adviser
In the initial years of his career, Mr. Tong was involved in commercial conveyancing (including housing development and commercial properties) and general litigation. His preference being corporate matters, Mr. Tong left practice in 1994 and continued his legal career with the Sunway Group of Companies, a diversified Malaysian conglomerate operating in the Asia Pacific region.
In the more than seven years stint with the Sunway Group, Mr. Tong has handled complex corporate and commercial matters in a diverse cluster of industries relating to privatization of toll roads, construction, property development, property investment, quarrying, building materials, shopping malls, hotels, theme parks, leisure-related industries, education and IT. Mr. Tong has drafted/reviewed documents related to corporate restructuring exercises, listing exercises, rights and bonus issues, ESOS schemes, concession agreements, construction contracts, acquisition and divestment agreements and issuance of private debt securities in the form of Islamic bonds.
Having a thirst to further establish his legal career, Mr. Tong left his position as the Head of the Legal Department of the Sunway Group of Companies in early 2001. Mr. Tong’s primary area of practice then included corporate finance, concession agreement for privatization of the Kajang Traffic Dispersal Ring Road, acquisitions and providing external legal support for Unified Communications Group of Companies, a telecommunications company listed in the SGX.
In 2002, Mr. Tong joined Messrs Shui-Tai, where he established and headed the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group.
In 2007, Mr. Tong left Messrs Shui-Tai and set up Messrs John Tong, Fahmi & KH Yeoh. Mr. Tong now specializes in corporate matters (restructuring exercises, listing and pre-listing exercises, employees’ share option schemes, acquisitions and divestments of equities and businesses), joint ventures, development/construction/infrastructure projects, privatisation of toll roads, privatization agreements, project management, Information, Communication and Technology (“ICT”) support, data centres set-up and operations, construction agreements, technical assistance agreements and manufacturing/mining agreements.
Mr. Tong is also one of the few legal practitioners in Malaysia conversant with the quarry industries.
Mr. Tong has the honour of being appointed as the Honorary Legal Advisor to Master Builders Association of Malaysia and the Malaysia Quarries Association. Mr Tong has also been appointed the Honoray Advisor to the International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors’ Association, a Federation comprising 19 member countries in the Asia Pacific region, with its headquarters in Manila, Philippines, since 2018.
Mr. Tong has in recent years been involved in deals involving the disposal data centre located in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, proposed privatization of a leading pharmacy group in Malaysia, tender for industrial hub in Pulau Indah, negotiations for a RM2.7 Billion re-development project with a Selangor GLC. Armed with his diverse experience and network, Mr. Tong is also very much sought after by business leaders to provide insights on the genuineness of transactions.
MR TONG
Mr Desmond Hill is the Deputy Head of the International Building Construction Divisions Group and Head of Contract Management Division of the International Civil Engineering Divisions & International Building Construction Divisions Group and is concurrently the Executive General Manager of Penta-Ocean Construction Co Ltd.
He has over 35 years of experience in large scale civil engineering and building projects.
Mr Hill holds a Degree in Civil Engineering from the National University of Singapore. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Singapore and a Fellow of the Society of Project Managers, Singapore. He is also an Accredited Adjudicator under the Security of Payment Act in Singapore and an Evaluator of the Singapore Mediation Centre.
He sits as Council Member of Singapore Contractors Association Ltd, Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC), Chairman, Council Committee for Management Systems & Product, SAC and Building & Construction Standard Committee, SPRING.
In the international arena his appointments including Treasurer of the ASEAN Constructors Federation (ACF) and Rapporteur of the International Federation of Asian & Western Pacific Contractors’ Associations (IFAWPCA).
His past appointments include as the President of the Singapore Contractors Association Ltd (SCAL), President of the Singapore Squash Rackets Association (SSRA), Secretary General of the International Federation of Western and Asia Pacific Contractors’ Associations (IFAWPCA), Council Member of the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), Council Member of the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), Singapore Business Federation, SME Committee on Finance and Cost of Doing Business, Council Member of the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD), Water Network Panel of the Public Utilities Board and Chairman, Technical Committee on Construction Management, SPRING.
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