Its founders are a mix of individuals with a common concern for the development of Mindanao through agrarian reform, sustainable development, social enterprise and democratic participation in governance. The present members of the Board are:
Charlito “Kaloy” Manlupig
Chairperson
BMFI’s founder and President, also a Mindanao development advocate and peace-builder, a former churchworker, former Mindanao Area Manager of the Presidential Management Staff of the Office of the President, former Regional Director of the Department of Agrarian Reform, former Mindanao Coordinator of PhilDHRRA, co-founder of MINCODE and presently the Secretary-General of the Mindanao Congress of Development NGOs (MINCON) and Deputy Secretary-General of Kusog Mindanaw., and a co-founder and leader of the Balay Mindanaw Group of NGOs. He is presently the mediator and Head of the Independent Secretariat in the GRP – RPM-M Peace Process. He is a graduate of the ten-week Working With Conflict Course at the RTC in Birmingham, UK.
Ariel “Ayi” Hernandez
Secretary
A young Mindanaoan professional who has been into development work since graduating from college. He has a Master’s degree in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM). He is presently the Executive Director of KPMFI.
Sylvia “Ibing” Okinlay-Paraguya
Treasurer
A member of an indigenous tribal community (Higaonon) of Bukidnon, a holder of a Master’s degree (MBA) from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), a leading agrarian reform advocate and presently the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of MASS-SPECC, Mindanao’s biggest federation of cooperatives, and Chairperson of the Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO networks (MINCODE); and member of the Philippine Peace Panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Victor Gerardo “Gerry” Bulatao
Board Member
A respected NGO personality with a solid background in agrarian reform having been deeply involved in the peasants’ struggle for agrarian reform through the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) in the 1970s, and a graduate of the Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Governance. This former Department of Agrarian Reform Undersecretary and former Executive Director of the Kaisahan Tungo sa Kaunlaran sa Kanayunan at Repormang Pansakahan is presently the Managing Director of the Empowering Civic Participation in Governance (ECPG) and the lead convenor of LGCNet.
Peter M. Unabia
Member
A Social Entrepreneur. He is currently a Board Member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Misamis Oriental. He started his development formation through the Jesuit Volunteer Program
Ed dela Torre
Member
A respected formator-educator. He was a former TESDA Administrator and currently the Executive Director of Education for Life (ELF).
Silverio “Dodong” Cardona
Member
A veteran and seasoned development worker who has spent the past 30 years working with the poorest communities in Mindanao; the Executive Director of Balay Dabaw Sur, Inc. (BMFI).
Arlene “Kaka” J. Bag-ao
Member
A young alternative Mindanaoan lawyer who has was among the first to join BMFI. She is the Executive Director of BALAOD-Mindanaw, a leading alternative legal NGO in Mindanao.
Charmaine Mae “Xx” Dagapioso-Baconga
Member
The first community organizer or SIADO of BMFI, now holds master’s degree in Applied Conflict Transformation Studies (ACTS). She is the Executive Director of the Resource Center for Empowerment and Development (RCED). She also heads the Operation Peace Course Program of BMFI.
Jose Noel Olano
Member
Butch is presently the Executive Director of PARFUND or the Philippine Agrarian Reform Fund. He also Chairs the Resource Center for Empowerment and Development (RCED). He was an Undersecretary of the DAR Central during the time of President Fidel V. Ramos.