MEET OUR
COMMISSIONERS
Established under Republic Act No. 11350, the leadership of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) functions as a strategic collegial body, driving the agency's mission by establishing the policies, standards, rules, regulations, plans, and programs that guide its operations.
Atty. Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer
PROFILE:
Appointed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Atty. Gutierrez is the third Chairperson and CEO of the Commission since its establishment in 2019. She is expected to serve the Commission until 17 September 2031. Born in Samal, Bataan, Atty. Gutierrez began her government career in 1974 as a Presidential Legal Officer. She held several key positions for more than two decades in the Department of Justice (DOJ) and later served as Secretary under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term. Atty. Gutierrez was appointed Anti-Corruption Czar in 2004 and has received several awards, including the Dangal ng Samal Award, the Woman of Distinction Award from the Venture Club of the Americas and Soroptimist International, and recognition as one of the Outstanding Public Officials by the Consumers Union of the Philippines. She was also recognized as one of Asia's Influential Leaders in 2024. She made history in 2005 as the first female Ombudsman of the Republic of the Philippines and later served as a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in 2023. Throughout her distinguished career, Atty. Gutierrez has championed causes related to human rights, women's and children’s protection, indigenous peoples, and anti-trafficking. She has also represented the country in numerous local and international forums focused on justice and human rights. With a deep commitment to public service and a strong track record in governance, Atty. Gutierrez is poised to lead the Commission with integrity, grace, and competence.
Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III
Commission Member IV
Clustered Region 3: Region IV-A and IV-B, and Region V
Base Office: Manila
PROFILE:
Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III is a retired Lieutenant General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and currently serves as Commission Member IV of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC). A respected military leader, he dedicated decades of service to strengthening national security and advancing peace and development through strategic leadership and public service. During his military career, Commissioner Cruz held key leadership positions, including Commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command and Commander of the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division. He directed operations in internal security, peacekeeping, and civil-military relations, earning numerous military awards and commendations for his professionalism, integrity, and exemplary leadership. Following his retirement from the AFP, he was appointed Director General of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) in 2015, where he led efforts to strengthen institutional management and support reforms within the country's correctional system. As Commission Member IV of the NCSC, Commissioner Cruz advocates for programs that uphold the welfare, rights, and active participation of Filipino senior citizens. He works with local government units, national agencies, and community partners to enhance service delivery, strengthen institutional collaboration, and promote initiatives that improve the quality of life of older persons. Guided by decades of leadership and public service, he remains committed to advancing the dignity, well-being, and empowerment of Filipino senior citizens.
Ida Yap-Patron, EdD PhD
Commission Member IV
Clustered Region 8: Regions XI and XIII
Base Office: Davao City
PROFILE:
Dr. Ida Yap-Patron, EdD, PhD is a distinguished academic leader, author, and public servant who serves as Commission Member IV of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC). Appointed in 2020 as one of the first Commissioners of the NCSC, she previously oversaw Regions XI and XIII and currently leads Mindanao I (Regions XI and XII). She was part of the drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRRs) of Republic Act Nos. 11350, 11916, and 11982, contributing to the strengthening of the country's policy and governance framework for older persons. Dr. Ida Yap-Patron holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Linguistics from the University of the Immaculate Conception and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Management from the University of Mindanao. Before joining government service, she served as Chancellor and Academic Vice President of the Philippine Women's College of Davao, and as Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and Dean of Student Support Services at the Philippine Women's University. She is author of several best-selling academic books and has dedicated much of her career to education, research, and institutional leadership. As NCSC Commissioner, Dr. Ida Yap-Patron has established strategic linkages with Senior Citizens Organizations (SCOs), Offices for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCAs), local government units, and civic organizations across the Davao and Caraga Regions. She has led efforts to introduce and advance the NCSC's mandates at the provincial, municipal, and city levels, championing healthy ageing, age-friendly and intergenerational environments, and evidence-based, rights-based policies that empower older Filipinos to age with dignity, participation, and security.
Camilo G. Gudmalin
Commission Member IV
PROFILE:
Camilo G. Gudmalin is a licensed civil engineer and senior social protection and development specialist with over 25 years of experience managing large-scale, donor-funded programs in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. He holds a Master's in Public Administration from Western Mindanao State University and completed the Bridging Leadership Fellowship and Program and Project Development Management programs at the Asian Institute of Management. He also earned a Certificate in Complex Crisis Management from the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii. Mr. Gudmalin served as Undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, overseeing major social protection programs, including the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, KALAHI-CIDSS, and the Sustainable Livelihood Program. He previously served as Assistant Secretary and National Project Manager, leading initiatives that expanded access to education, health, water, sanitation, livelihood, and community infrastructure nationwide. His core expertise includes social protection, community-driven development, project management, institutional strengthening, water and sanitation, and crisis-responsive programming. He has undertaken consultancy assignments for the World Bank and Asian Development Bank and led development projects in Indonesia and Myanmar. His recognitions include departmental awards for outstanding performance and multiple commendations from the Career Executive Service Board. He is a Career Executive Service Officer I.
Leo L. Intia
Commission Member IV
PROFILE:
Judge Leo L. Intia (ret.) is a distinguished jurist, educator, and public servant with more than three decades of experience in law, justice, and public administration. He served as Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 27, Naga City, from 2001 until his retirement in 2023. His Court was specially designated as the Environmental Court, handling cases involving environmental protection laws. Throughout his judicial career, he was also designated as Acting Presiding Judge of several Regional Trial Courts in Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte. Before joining the Judiciary, Judge Intia (ret.) served as Prosecutor II, Department of Justice, Province of Camarines Norte; a Lawyer at the Public Attorney’s Office; Assistant Division Chief and Hearing Officer of the Quedan Guarantee Fund Board; Private Law Practitioner, and Law Professor in various institutions in Bicol Region. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science from the University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi, and his Juris Doctor degree from San Beda University, Manila. His commitment to excellence earned him recognition as a three-time nominee (2006–2008) in the Search for Outstanding Judges of the Philippines, a nominee for the 2008 DENR SARINGAYA Award, and one of five national finalists in the 1997 Search for Outstanding Public Prosecutors of the Philippines sponsored by the Foundation for Judicial Excellence. As Commissioner of the National Commission of Senior Citizens, he brings a wealth of legal experience, leadership, and a lifelong commitment to serving the Filipino people. He echoes the words of Dr. Jose Rizal, our National Hero – “A Life that is not dedicated to a great and noble calling is just like a stone wasted in the fields without becoming a part of any edifice”.
Gloria J. Mercado
Commission Member IV
PROFILE:
Gloria Jumamil-Mercado, PhD, MNSA, is currently the Commissioner-in-Region for the Luzon Cluster 1 consisting of NCR & Region IV-A of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC). Upon her retirement in 2023, she was the Chairperson and CEO of the Asian Center of Excellence in Development and Security (ACEDS) and was an International Research Fellow at Taiwan's Institute of Defense and Security Research. Her more than 4 decades of public service began in 1979, spanning roles as Project Development Analyst for the Ministry of Industry, General Santos City Planning Head, PEZA Deputy Director General, and Commercial Officer at the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan. At the Development Academy of the Philippines, she was Senior Vice President and Dean of the Graduate School of Public and Development Management. Dr. Mercado later served as Deputy Cabinet Secretary at the Office of the President (OP), Undersecretary for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Streamlining of Government Processes-where she organized the NCSC-and Executive Director/Undersecretary of OPAPP, chairing the Government Implementing Panel for the MILF Peace Accords. In 2023, she retired as Senior Undersecretary for Human Resources and Organizational Development at the Department of Education. Notably, she was the Philippine Navy Reserve's first female Commodore, commanding the Naval Forces Reserve Eastern Visayas during Typhoon Yolanda and Bohol earthquake. An international scholar, she holds a PhD in Mainland China Studies from National Sun Yat-Sen University, an MNSA from the National Defense College of the Philippines, and was a Harvard Kennedy School Hunt Fund Fellow for women in society, and a Bachelor in Economics graduate from the University of San Carlos. She is the daughter of former Mayor Guillermo Jumamil Sr. and business woman Herminia Mondigo, mother of three, and a grandmother of six.
Ma. Dolores M. Rigonan
Commission Member IV
PROFILE:
Atty. Ma. Dolores M. Rigonan is a seasoned government lawyer and public servant with more than three decades of experience in public sector governance, corporate law, and policy. She earned her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Santo Tomas and has dedicated her legal career to advancing good governance across government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs). Prior to her current role as Commissioner of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), she served as Assistant Government Corporate Counsel at the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), where she supervised legal services for key government institutions, including the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Land Bank of the Philippines, the Philippine Retirement Authority, and other major GOCCs. She also held leadership roles in the OGCC’s Executive and Management Committees and chaired its Learning and Development Committee. Throughout her career, Commissioner Rigonan has been recognized for her commitment to ethical governance, institutional development, and public service. She continues to champion programs that promote the welfare, dignity, and rights of older persons, bringing decades of legal expertise and principled leadership to the NCSC.