Daily Guardian contributor joins International Road Federation team

An Ilonggo engineer and contributor to Daily Guardian’s opinion section has been selected for the International Road Federation (IRF) Young Professionals Leadership Team for Southeast Asia and the Pacific in 2021-2022.

Engr. Ray Adrian Macalalag, a Senior Policy and Planning Specialist of the National Economic and Development Authority in Western Visayas will take part in the Young Professionals (YP) Programmes.

Holding the term for two years, 2021-2022, he will be responsible in coordinating activities of the program and to execute the strategies and plans of the IRF. He will be the main contact of his region assignment and will be the public face of the program.

He is joined by three other members: Frederic John, a mobility and smart city consultant from Belgium (YP Lead for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Americas); Shashank Misra, a sustainability professional from India (YP Lead for Asia); and Tendekayi Marapara, World Bank consultant from Zimbabwe (YP Secretary).

IRF-YP is a platform for the next generation of leaders and specialists in the road and mobility sector to propose initiatives, share ideas and engagement with the overall activities of IRF.

Building on the IRF’s vast network and expertise, the Programme has as its mission to present the road and mobility sectors as a multidisciplinary area for development for young professionals from various backgrounds.

Director-General Susanna Zammataro of the IRF based in Geneva, Switzerland announced and welcomed the team on Twitter on January 13, 2021 and called for colleagues in the various sectors to support them.

Macalalag said he will work with professionals from Zimbabwe, India and Belgium to help promote road safety, transport, and mobility, especially in low-middle income countries.

“As I take this new role entrusted to me by the International Road Federation through its young professionals program, I commit myself to ensuring no low-middle income country will be left behind in the ideas and innovations our team will be coming up,” he added.

Engr. Macalalag also worked for the Department of Public Works and Highways before moving to NEDA.

He also contributes to DG’s opinion pages with focus on road safety, public infrastructures, and engineering.

He is a civil engineering graduate of the University of San Agustin and he also earned his master’s degree in engineering from Western Institute of Technology.

He also represented the Philippines in the 26th World Road Congress held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates last 2019 where he presented his paper focusing on road safety program policy and investment decision making. (With a report from Iloilo City PIO)