Trustee-awardees Francisco Floro and Nelia Gonzales flank President Paterno Viloria
The Small Enterprises Research and Development Foundation (SERDEF) elected members of the Board of the Trustees for 2012-2013 at its annual general membership meeting held yesterday, May 16, at the UP Institute for Small-Scale Industries, Diliman, Quezon City.
Elected to the Board of Trustees for two-year terms were Fortunato T. de la Pena, Editha A. Reyes, Yolanda T. de la Cruz, Melito S. Salazar, Jr., and Sonia Tiong-Aquino. Eduardo R. Magtoto and Celia R. Pascual, who tied for the sixth slot, would serve for one year each: the former in 2012-2013 and the latter in 2013-2014.
Under its revised by-laws, the 12 elected members of the 15-member Board of Trustees (three are designated ex-oficio) serve a two-year term each on staggered basis, with six slots being vacated each year and needing to be filled by a new set of elected Trustees.
Elected officers of the SERDEF for 2012-2013 were: Francisco Floro, Chairman of the Board; Paterno Viloria, President; Paz H. Diaz, Secretary; and Editha Reyes, Treasurer.
Earlier in the meeting, the Foundation’s Accomplishment Report for 2011was presented in an audio-visual package. Before the AV was run, however, President Viloria underscored the alliance between SERDEF and the U.P. Institute for Small-Scale Industries (UP ISSI), an alliance that “serves as a mutual hedge as we continue to work together for innovative solutions to the problems of mSMEs in the country.”
The AV presentation, entitled “35 Years of Empowerment and Transformation,” highlighted the major accomplishments of SERDEF, mostly in collaboration with UP ISSI, in training, research, information dissemination, extension, advocacy and consultancy, and organizational development. It also gave a preview of what is expected in terms of new projects and activities in the next few years.
Both the AV and printed annual report were marked by repetitive images of the “Tree of Enterprise” which, according to President Viloria, represents the SERDEF mission of germinating the seeds of entrepreneurship, nourishing their growth through nurturing programs and services, and inducing them to bear fruits to benefit the larger society.” He urged the members of the SERDEF to make it their battle cry or a corporate motto, the better to propagate the enterprise culture among Filipinos
In her Financial Report, SERDEF Treasurer Editha Reyes presented a summary of the Fondation’s Fund Balances, the status of restricted funds, the schedule of investments in various banks, grants and expenses, and status of projects.
In the awards portion of the meeting, Trustee Nelia Gonzalez and Chairman Francisco Floro were given the “Outstanding Achievement Award” and the “Distinguished Service Award” respectively.
The annual general meeting was followed by a public forum on Distinguished Entrepreneurial Leadership featuring two distinguished women entrepreneurs, Mrs. Cynthia Villar of Villar Foundation and Myrna Bituin of Betis Crafts. (Click here for full story on the forum.)
The Board of Trustees for 2012-2013\
