Rogelio B Bantiles has been engaged in altruistic pursuits since 1969. Handling development work and advocacy for the rights of the poor, deprived, and downtrodden, he has been helping farmers, the urban poor, and Indigenous People. His professional milestones include being coordinator of the Project Planning & Programming Desk (PPPD) of the Mindanao branch of the National Secretariat of Social Action, Justice & Peace (NASSA) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), freelance evaluator of the Committee on Development Projects (CDP) of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), and Special Assistant to former Senator Wigberto Tañada. He currently manages a business that markets organic and natural foods, vegetables and fruits in various locations in Metro Manila. He also teaches urban organic farming in Barangay Bagong Silang, Quezon City, and is an inspector and certifier of organic production and processing. He is the 1st Vice President and Editor of the newsletter of Asia Research Network for Organic Agriculture.

Roger founded the Alliance of Volunteers in Development Foundation, Inc (AVDF) in 1990 to motivate successful professionals and skilled people in various disciplines to return to their villages of origin to help local communities break the vicious cycle of poverty and hopelessness and take the firm steps to social transformation and development. The volunteers act as catalysts of change, starting communities toward the process of becoming, and empowering these villages to transform their barangays. AVDF sells the produce of communities to strengthen the local economy. Part of the profits goes to the subsistence of volunteers. Where possible, communities are encouraged to provide free board and lodging to the volunteers, thus boosting the people’s sense of dignity and self-worth.

Roger obtained his AB Economics from Ateneo de Davao University and completed 3 semesters of his Masters in economics from the Asian Social Institute (ASI) in Manila. Married to Alexis Naraval, he has 4 adult children.

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