John V. Owens, Chief of Party

A lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in microenterprise development and microfinance, Mr. Owens has worked in Jamaica, the Eastern Caribbean, Bolivia, Peru, and the Philippines. His areas of expertise include planning, designing, and implementation of microfinance services (both credit and savings mobilization) both at the policy side and directly with banks, credit unions, and specialized microfinance institutions. He has developed several courses in microfinance best practices, product design, administration and management of microfinance units, and savings mobilization. He has managed several USAID projects and has written and lectured on various aspects of microfinance. He is the chief of party for the Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) project in the Philippines where he has focused on planning and implementing the overall MABS program activities along with the rest of the MABS Team. In Bolivia, he focused on the transformation of microfinance NGO’s into regulated financial institutions and supervised technical assistance provided to the Bolivian Superintendent of Banks in order to improve the regulatory environment for microfinance institutions. For USAID/Jamaica, he managed the Microenterprise Development Project that provided support to various microfinance institutions and microenterprise business development organizations. Mr. Owens was also a small business volunteer with the US Peace Corps in Jamaica where he was awarded the Peace Corps Volunteer of the Year award in 1990. Mr. Owens earned his law degree with the University of Notre Dame Law School. He also has a B.A. accounting & philosophy degree from the Gustavus Adolphus College.

Meliza H. Agabin, Deputy Chief of Party

Ms. Agabin is a rural banking and microfinance specialist. With more than 28 years experience in agricultural, rural and microfinance, she is one of the pioneers of microfinance in the Philippines. Her extensive experience in management, research, surveys, and training has taken her to consulting assignments in the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, Yemen Arab Republic, and Egypt. For MABS, she plays a prominent role in setting microfinance policy and standards, working with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and other USAID microfinance projects to study macro-level microfinance policy issues and promote policy initiatives conducive to the growth of the microfinance sector. She has co-authored the “Rice Economy of the Philippines” published in 1974, and the “Small Farmer Credit Dilemma”, published in 1985, as well as numerous other studies and papers on rural banking and microfinance.

Anthony P. Petalcorin, Senior MIS Manager

Mr. Petalcorin completed graduate studies on Computer Science – Computer for Developmental Projects at the University of Bonn in Germany. His paper focused on “The Use of Microcomputers for Rural Finance in the Third World Countries”. Prior to MABS, Mr. Petalcorin managed the computerization requirements and management information systems for various corporations for over 20 years. His area of expertise is systems development. For MABS, Mr. Petalcorin played a vital role in assisting in the development of RB2000, a rural banking software, and also providing technical assistance in the institutional, strengthening, training, and monitoring and evaluation functions.

Alexander C. Fonollera, Microfinance and Banking Specialist (Mindanao)

Mr. Fonollera began his career with MABS as an Agricultural and Banking Specialist, providing technical support in the design and development of the micro agri-loan product. He now leads and implements MABS’ activities in Mindanao.

Mr. Fonollera holds a Masters of Business in Finance from the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia and a Masters in Business Administration from Xavier University. Prior to joining MABS, Mr. Fonollera had extensive experience heading the credit administration unit and branch operations of a development bank.

Emelita C. Rocero, Associate Microfinance Specialist II

Ms. Rocero has been with MABS for more than seven years, working as Technical Support Manager of MABS’ Davao Office for two years. She worked closely with MABS participating banks in Mindanao on microfinance performance reports monitoring and evaluation.

In 2004, Ms. Rocero provided support in pilot testing the MABS Approach to Micro Agri Lending with five banks before her appointment as the point person for Micro Agri-loan Product (MAP). Ms. Rocero conducts and facilitates the Program’s MAP in-house and regional training and co-facilitates MABS’ regional training on AO Microfinance Basics, Middle Management Training Course and Hardcore Delinquency Management.

Ms. Rocero had over four years of banking experience as Credit Analyst for a development bank before joining MABS. She has a Bachelors Degree in Accountancy and has completed her MBA academics at the University of Southeastern Philippines.

Nixon P. Mahilum, Management Information Systems Specialist

Mr. Mahilum has more than 15 years of professional Information Technology (IT) experience in the Philippines, Australia, and Indonesia. He has extensive experience in documentation and formulation of IT policies and procedures, software development and integration, systems processes, information security, and business contingency and continuity plans. With MABS, he developed manuals and procedures including preparation of training course materials for mobile phone banking applications.

Yvonne P. Brawner, Management Information Systems Specialist

Ms. Brawner is an IT professional with ten years of experience. Her expertise lies in IT training and supporting banking systems through systems development, networking, and systems administration. Ms. Brawner is a certified Microsoft Systems Administrator.

Anatoly DC. Gusto, Research Associate and Financial Analyst

Mr. Gusto, who has more than eight years of research experience - with emphasis on economic policy, banking and capital market development and regulation - leads the Research and Financial Analysis Unit of MABS, which is in charge with the conduct of surveys, evaluation, impact assessment and other research-support activities of the Program. He presently oversees the consolidation, preparation and submission of various reports, including those submitted to the Microfinance Information eXchange (MIX) Market (global internet-based microfinance information platform); and MicroBanking Bulletin (MBB) (global benchmarking source for the microfinance industry). For MABS, Mr. Gusto plays a prominent role in promoting transparency in annual financial reporting among participating banks, in accordance with international disclosure guidelines and industry-specific CGAP Disclosure Guidelines.

He graduated with a degree in B.S. Economics, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines in Diliman and is currently working on his graduate thesis research for the completion of M.S. in Computational Finance at Graduate School of Business-De La Salle Professional Schools, Inc.

Cheryl Lualhati B. Balingit, Communications Specialist

Ms. Balingit leads the Program's communications and publications strategy, promoting its public and media outreach. For MABS, Ms. Balingit develops information/marketing kits; writes Program reports and materials; drafts and issues feature stories, press releases, and briefs; and manages the development of video documentaries that highlight MABS’ achievements and communicate the impact of its work.

Shifting careers from photogrammetric/geodetic engineering to communications, Ms. Balingit is a BS Geodetic Engineering graduate of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman and recently completed her Masters in Technology Management at the UP Diliman’s Technology Management Center.