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(Profile as of April 2008)
Arvin (owner of iecspecialist.com) is a communication specialist with wide-ranging experience in technical writing, report editing, newspaper journalism, broadcasting, web development and design, print publication design, process documention, event organizing and media relations. He had rendered services to foreign-assisted projects mostly based in Mindanao in the fields of environment, fishery, tourism,health, disaster management, economic development, education, community development and peacebuilding as funded by USAID, UNDP, EU, ADB, UNESCO, GTZ, JBIC, NOVIB and AusAID, among others. From these project experiences, he has developed a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics of project implementation as they relate to the international relations policy of funding institutions, the Philippine government bureaucracy as executing agencies and the civil society.
Arvin presently works fulltime as communication specialist in the context and framework of change management for the e-Customs (automation) Project of the Philippine Bureau of Customs under Unisys-Philippines as implementing consulting firm. Concurrently, he renders consulting services on web design and content writing for international consulting firm PRIMEX and its Asian Development Bank-funded development projects while doing research writing and publication design for STRIDES, Inc., a research organization based in the Ateneo de Manila, and case study writing/web writing & editing for Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF).
Prior to the e-Customs work, Arvin’s last major consulting engagement was as consultant on web developent, design and organization (web surveillance for emerging infectious diseases) for a Department of Health project in Manila under the Asian Development Bank. The project had been instrumental in strengthening the country’s preparedness for the dreaded influenza pandemic by providing training resources for disease surveillance, prevention and control including the development of a web surveillance system.
He was also previously engaged as IEC Specialist with the JBIC-funded Southern Mindanao Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project for three years.
At 19 (in 1996), Arvin was a news correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer for Mindanao while working as desk editor and political columnist for a daily regional newspaper - Daily San Pedro Express, and stringer for the Media Mindanao News Service.
His skill in event organizing, coordination and management has been best tested when entrusted to manage the 11-million worth of Regional tourism showcase (Region XI) for Wow Philippines/ Department of Tourism program in 2003.
In 2005, Arvin co-authored and designed a seven-chapter book of replicable disaster management practices across Mindanao entitled “Upholding Life in the Worst of Times: Emergency Response to Conflict and Calamity in Mindanao” as jointly funded by the UNDP-European Commission--MEDCo. He wrote Chapter 1: “Saving Lives’ at the Core of Local Governance: The South Cotabato Experience”.
Recently, Arvin was featured on the May 2007 issue of Makati-based Enterprise business magazine by MediaG8way Corporation for his professional services in communication and the way he diversifies them to offer web development. (Full article)
He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies (Journalism and Public Relations) from Australia's University of Newcastle as an Australian government scholar and an international student leader. He was the founding president of the university's Filipino International Student Organization and co-convenor of various inter-university conferences for international students in the state of New South Wales. He was picked to deliver a graduation address representing 300 graduating foreign students at the university's November 1999 special graduation rite.
Also in Newcastle , he worked as community broadcaster for radio station 103.7- 2NUR-FM and as a media relations intern for the Member of the (Federal) Parliament for Newcastle, Alan Morris. His public relations audit/analysis report on the first Australian referendum was cited by Mr Morris for its "thorough and objective presentation of the PR issues associated with the referendum".
Arvin is presently pursuing Master of Science in Social Development at the Ateneo de Manila University.
