Seven Hearts Beating as One

The 14th General Assembly of the Coalition for Bicol Development (CBD) was held last April 19 and 20, 2013 at the Penafrancia Resort, Carolina, Naga City, appropriately themed “CBD: Strengthening our network and moving forward for partnerships towards regional advancement” with the regional network’s active engagements and collaborations with civil society organizations, local government units and national government agencies during the past year. 

The business meeting held on the first day was attended by majority of the member provincial and city networks representatives and delegates coming from ALPRODEV (Albay), BUGKOS CATANDUNGAN (Catanduanes), CAMSDEV (Camarines Norte), CAMSURNET (Camarines Sur), NAGA CITY PEOPLE’S COUNCIL (Naga City) and PANGOPOD (Sorsogon). Fr. Granwell N. Pitapit, CAMSURNET’s Chairperson, was re-elected as CBD’s Chairperson and presided over the meeting.

Vice-Chairperson Ms. Glenda Vader of ALPRODEV presented the Chairperson’s report and the newly installed treasurer, Dr. Augusto Nieves of NCPC, presented the financial report. The highpoint of the meeting was the presentation, approval and adoption of the amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and the Constitution and By-Laws by the general assembly. Ms. Roselle Rasay, Membership Specialist of CODE-NGO discussed updates regarding the five year-strategic plan and other related organizational concerns such as PCNC accreditation, good governance checklist and renewal of the Code of Conduct. To cap the first day, Ms. Joy Banares, CBD’s Regional Coordinator, shared the output and recommendations for Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) 2015 of the National CSO Consultation and Assessment of the 2014 BuB–Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan held last April 11-12, 2103 at the Ateneo de Manila University. 

The second day of the assembly was a CSO forum jointly sponsored by CBD and CAMSURNET with more than 60 CSO representatives in the Bicol region participating. The first speaker, Ms. Clair Tangal, who came in lieu of Usec. Bimbo  Fernandez of DILG, spoke about Building Partnerships for Local Development.  Many of the queries afterwards were related to the Bottom-up Budgeting and Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan process in which 109 of the municipalities and cities from the 6 provinces in Bicol region were involved.  The second session was facilitated by Mr. Rico Calderon, Social Enterprise Development specialist of the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF). He gave an orientation about PEF, its programs and partnerships, and comprehensively explained its social enterprise agenda.

The culminating event was a short ceremony intended to give recognition to CBD’s various partners and board members who had been instrumental and supportive to the endeavours of CBD to achieve its mission and goals in the past years. Certificates of Appreciation were given to partner National Government Agencies: RD Blandino Maceda, CESO III of DILG RO V (MDGF Watsan Project) and RD Danilo Dequito, CESO III of DPWH (Bantay Lansangan Project); to partner implementers of the  Empowerment Project: Caritas-Libmanan, Socio-Pastoral Action Center Foundation, Inc. (SPACFI), Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA), Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), Masbate NGO-PO Formation, MALAYA KA, INC. and Sandigan ng Magsasaka; and to previous members of CBD’s Board of Trustees: Mr. Nolly Iglesia of Masbate NGO-PO Formation (Auditor) and Cristopher S. Molin of NCPC (Treasurer) 

CBD’s 14th General Assembly was formally adjourned with a renewed commitment from the members to serve for Bicol’s development. — By Aurora Chavez-de Guzman, Executive Director, Malaya Ka (PANGOPOD member) and Board Secretary, CBD