Dr. Nelia T. Gonzalez, Chair of the Small Enterprises Research and Development Foundation (SERDEF) Inc., passed away yesterday. June 19, 2021. She was 99.
Dr. Nelia T. Gonzalez, Chair of the Small Enterprises Research and Development Foundation (SERDEF) Inc., passed away yesterday. June 19, 2021. She was 97.
Dr. Gonzalez was known as a pioneering agribusiness and social entrepreneur, outstanding civil servant, and exponent of cooperative and small farmer development.
She served for several terms with the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines, which awarded her an honorary doctorate degree in 2016.
She was the longest-serving chair of the SERDEF.
Dr. Emil Javier, former president of the University of the Philippines. describes her as “a truly outstanding Filipino who has given so much of herself for the country, particularly in agriculture and rural development.”
Her remains lie in state at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Gilmore Street, Quezon City. Wake will start tomorrow, June 21 until June 23, with visiting hours starting from 9 am to 6 pm. Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
She is survived by her childlren Justo “Jay Gonzalez III; Visitacion “Bessie” Gonzalez-Escalona; Alfredo “Didi” Gonzalez; and Teresita “Tess” Gonzalez.