On October 8, 2018, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed the appointment of Ms. Donna Rose O. Ratilla as the Co-Chairperson of the RDC-VI. She will serve the Council until the end of term of LGU officials in 2019.
Ms. Ratilla is a businesswoman who owns and manages GDR Travel and Tour Services, GDR Auto Sales and Services, GDR Petroleum Storage and Refilling Station, and GDR Taxi. She is also the proprietor of Café de Hablon and Café Panay, as well as, the President of Grose Ventures, Inc.
Ms. Ratilla served as President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) – Iloilo Chapter from 2014-2015 and was re-elected in the same position from 2016-2018. She is currently the PCCI Regional Governor of Western Visayas. She is a member of the Association of Travel and Tour Operators, an officer of the Iloilo City Tourism Council, and a member of the Iloilo City Coalition on Clean Air and Climate Change.
Some of her awards and citations include: Regional Tourism Excellence Western Visayas Regional Directors Award (Dec. 2009); “Pagdayaw Award” – DILG Patrol 117 (2008 / 2009); Outstanding Women of Iloilo for NGO 2011; Awardee As Successful Entrepreneur – TSKI (25 Awardees Nationwide); Special Recognition of the PCCI-Iloilo as finalist in the 2015 Most Outstanding Chamber Award, and a Special Citation for Most Outstanding Chamber for Tourism Advocacy in 2015.
Ms. Ratillla was born in Jaro, Iloilo City on August 2, 1954. She was an achiever since elementary graduating as Class Valedictorian at the Graciano Lopez Jaena Elementary School, graduated with honors at the Iloilo High School, and a Grant-in-Aid Scholar at the University of the Philippines in Iloilo earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Major in Accounting) degree in 1975.
Her corporate social activities cover tourism advocacies, medical and surgical missions, livelihood for drivers, donations to victims of calamities, feeding programs for elementary students in selected schools and in 22 coastal barangays, among others.
Ms. Ratilla brings to the RDC her rich experience and depth of knowledge of the concerns faced by the region’s business community. Her recent efforts to strengthen the PCCI provincial chapters in Western Visayas bodes well for RDC’s goal to have a united and engaging business sector in the region. (DRD)
