MCJ Announces Board of Trustees to Strengthen Defense of Land, Life, and Rights in Mindanao
Mindanao, Philippines — Mindanao Climate Justice (MCJ) formally announces its Board of Trustees, bringing together leaders across communities, institutions, and disciplines to strengthen the organization’s mission of advancing climate justice and defending the rights of the people of Mindanao amid intensifying environmental and human rights challenges.
The formation of the Board comes at a critical time, as communities across Mindanao confront the expansion of extractive industries, militarization of ancestral lands, climate-related disasters, and increasing threats against environmental and human rights defenders. In this context, MCJ affirms the importance of leadership that is grounded in the lived realities of communities and committed to sustained, collective action.
The MCJ Board of Trustees is composed of:
• Dr. Michael Tan, DVM, PhD – Chairperson
• Most Rev. Jose A. Cabantan, D.D. – Trustee
• Prof. Rufa Cagoco-Guiam – Corporate Secretary
• Sr. Flora C. Secuya, m.a. – Treasurer
• Ms. Victoria M. Nolasco, LPT – Executive Director
• Atty. Lee Edson P. Yarcia, MD, JD – Trustee
• Dr. Reginaldo L. Pamugas, MD – Trustee
• Ms. Bayang Barrios – Trustee
Together, they help guide MCJ’s work with Lumad, Moro, and other grassroots communities across Mindanao, particularly in contexts marked by displacement, environmental destruction, and ongoing threats to human rights.
Leadership Rooted in Communities and Lived Realities
The strength of the Board lies in its deep connection to the realities faced by communities across Mindanao—where environmental degradation, conflict, and inequality are closely intertwined.
“As communities continue to face displacement, militarization, and the encroachment of large-scale projects on their ancestral lands, the need for grounded and collective leadership becomes even more urgent,” said Dr. Michael Tan, Chairperson of MCJ. “Our role is to ensure that MCJ’s work remains rooted in the lived realities of communities and responsive to the conditions they face.”
Dr. Michael Tan, DVM, PhD – Chairperson
A medical anthropologist, educator, and public intellectual, Dr. Tan is a professor emeritus of the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he served as Chancellor from 2014 to 2020. An academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology, he is currently President of Guang Ming College and a columnist of “Gray Matters” in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. His work brings deep insight into the intersections of health, culture, and society—helping ground MCJ’s advocacy in the everyday realities of communities.
Most Rev. Jose A. Cabantan, D.D. – Trustee
Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro, Archbishop Cabantan provides pastoral leadership rooted in faith, justice, and solidarity. A native of Misamis Oriental and former Bishop of Malaybalay, he has long served communities across Mindanao. His role affirms the responsibility to care for creation and uphold the dignity of communities, especially those facing displacement and environmental harm, strengthening MCJ’s engagement with faith-based solidarity.
Prof. Rufa Cagoco-Guiam – Corporate Secretary
A cultural anthropologist and sociologist, Prof. Cagoco-Guiam focuses on peace, conflict, and development in Mindanao, including the links between climate change and conflict. A retired Full Professor of Mindanao State University–General Santos and former Director of the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao, she has contributed extensively to governance and policy work in the Bangsamoro region. Her work provides critical insight into how climate, conflict, and inequality intersect, helping shape MCJ’s responses to complex realities.
Sr. Flora C. Secuya, m.a. – Treasurer
Sr. Flora Secuya is Director of the Paglaum Philanthropic Development Office of the Missionaries of the Assumption, after having served as their Superior. She is also Director for Finance of the Assumption College of Davao. Her leadership reflects a strong commitment to stewardship, integrity, and service—ensuring that MCJ’s resources are managed with accountability and care for the communities it serves.
Ms. Victoria M. Nolasco, LPT – Executive Director
A teacher and environmental advocate, Ms. Nolasco has worked extensively with Indigenous communities and Lumad schools across Mindanao. She previously served as administrator of more than 50 Indigenous community schools, supporting education rooted in culture, community, and the lived realities of Indigenous peoples. She is also a board member and former fellow of the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR) at the University of York in the United Kingdom. As Executive Director, she leads MCJ’s work alongside communities—ensuring it remains grounded, responsive, and committed to the defense of land, life, and dignity.
“As we continue working with communities, we are reminded that the defense of land is inseparable from the defense of life, culture, and future generations,” said Ms. Victoria M. Nolasco, Executive Director of MCJ. “This Board strengthens our collective capacity to stand with communities—not only in times of crisis, but in building long-term pathways toward justice and resilience.”
Atty. Lee Edson P. Yarcia, MD, JD – Trustee
A physician and lawyer, Atty. Yarcia specializes in public health, human rights, and justice system reform. He serves as National Programme Officer of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the Philippines and teaches at the University of the Philippines College of Law. His work bridges health and justice, strengthening accountability and protection mechanisms that support communities facing systemic challenges.
Dr. Reginaldo L. Pamugas, MD – Trustee
Dr. Pamugas is a psychiatrist and community health practitioner dedicated to strengthening mental health care and community-based services. His work promotes accessible and compassionate approaches to mental health, particularly among underserved communities, emphasizing that healing and care are essential in sustaining communities facing crisis and displacement.
Ms. Bayang Barrios – Trustee
A Manobo artist and cultural advocate from Agusan del Sur, Ms. Barrios is widely recognized for bringing Indigenous music and culture of Mindanao to national and international audiences. Through her work, she uplifts Indigenous identity, cultural heritage, and environmental awareness—strengthening the connection between culture, community, and the defense of ancestral lands.
Strengthening Collective Action in a Time of Crisis
The announcement of the Board underscores MCJ’s commitment to strengthening its work amid escalating challenges in Mindanao—where communities continue to face the impacts of large-scale mining and development projects, environmental degradation, and increasing risks for those defending land and life.
Guided by the Board of Trustees, MCJ continues to advance its programs in citizen journalism, legal advocacy, environmental protection, and community-based resilience—ensuring that these efforts remain accountable to and shaped by the voices of the communities themselves.
More than a governance body, the Board forms part of a broader movement for climate justice—one that centers the leadership, rights, and dignity of communities most affected by environmental and social injustices.
A Call for Solidarity and Collective Action
As MCJ moves forward, it calls on partners, communities, and advocates to deepen solidarity and collective action in defending ancestral lands, protecting the environment, and advancing justice across Mindanao.
The struggle for climate justice is inseparable from the struggle for people’s rights—and it is through collective leadership and sustained action that a just and sustainable future for Mindanao can be realized.
