TWO formal seminars held in Baguio City occupied my full attention from May 29 (Monday) to June 3 (Saturday), 2017. The first, entitled “Capacity and Development (Sharpening the Saw) Seminar’ was organized by the PCL (Philippine Councilors League) Abra Chapter for its members. It was held at the Venus Parkview Hotel from May 29 to 31, 2017.
The second, entitled “Parliamentary Procedures and the Meeting, Board Resolution and Project Proposal Writing”, was put up by the Cooperative Union of Baguio City, now named Cooperative Union of Baguio City and Luzon to accommodate in its membership primary cooperatives outside Baguio. It was held at the La Azotea Building at Upper Session Rd. from June 2 to 3, 2017.
The first day of the CDS seminar presented the highlight topics as follows: CSC updates by Dir. Perfecto B. Cardenas of the CSC Abra Field Office, autonomy and salient features of HB 5343 by Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan of Baguio City; ESWM by EMB-PMO Joyce Ann A. Mangsat of Abra; Phederalism (Federalism) by Vice Mayor Edison R. Bilog of Baguio City; PCL updates and sharing of experiences as a veteran Legislator by Vice Chairman Elmer O. Datuin of PCL-National, and LGOO Rolando Gonzales of DILG-CAR; LTO updates by OIC-LTO Jose B. Denna of Abra, PCLLA by Executive Director Helario “Larry” Casimero, Ed. D. of PCLLA, and e-Legislative Management by Timothy Peñaflor of Timmate Enterprise.
It is tempting to start picking out portions of the lectures for highlighted exposition and expounding or comments but because of the importance of the topics dealt with vis-avis the intended beneficiaries and their respective municipal constituencies, most especially, for me, the historic topic as handled by Dr. Larry Casimero, I have decided to devote next Wednesday’s SF space to bring out and react on portions much worth highlighting or further elucidating and expanding for the purpose of creating more final impact.
We, further hope to contact speaker Larry Casimero for more expounding of his visionary ideas much needed by LGU service providers and planners. They surely need to be educationally uplifted for no one can give what he does not have. Who are our local planners? No other else than our town councilors led by our respective town vice mayors. So, watch for next week’s Snapshot focus!
*****
The second seminar mentioned above dealt with topics no less challenging and ones that are better put to practice more seriously by cooperative people concerned, especially the board and the various committee members. The seminar was entitled “Seminar on Parliamentary Procedures and Minutes of Meeting, Board Resolution and Project Proposal Writing.” The first part, parliamentary procedure, was presented and discussed by former Baguio City Councilor Lourdes “Lulu” Tabanda, an avowed international lecturer on her topic, according to former CUBC Chairperson Engr. Susan Angaga.
After Tabanda inducted the new set of CUBC (Cooperative Union of Baguio City and Luzon) Board Members and Committee Officers, she asked point blank a series of startling questions: Are you really ready to assume office? Do you really believe in the Coop? agpayso aya? Many of you are busy with your own livelihood work in many other positions. Are you committed to your organization? Do you know the vision and the mission of your coop? Do you know your members? The people you are going to work for and work with? Are you an apostle of cooperative, of cooperation? Without camaraderie, you cannot develop. Even churches. And do you have the passion to work for your cooperative? From working hours in the morning, are you alert and expectant? … A leader must have followers whom the leader must be able to maintain. The biggest challenge is to maintain followers and keep coop operational.
Then speaker Tabanda sounded off the warning, “Even coops were misled by Napoles.” Coops must now register with the CDA (Cooperative Development Authority); partner with CSO, PopCom, DSWD, DOH. Be accredited. Get benefits/shares from them, esp. DOLE, but see to it that they reach your members. Procure photocopiers and binding machines. There may be other group you can partner with. Therefore, are you really committed?
By her searching introductory queries, speaker teacher Tabanda seemed bent to assure that her timed engagement would not go to waste. She did not come to the forum to waste her voice in a wilderness of people. She wanted to form attitudes of sincerity and enlightened commitment in the cooperative. That was clear. Only then did she give instruction for the well-illustrated brochures of her lecture to be distributed to help the participants listen better and understand the objectives, principles and processes to be followed in carrying out and effecting more efficient meeting as well as know the basics of terminologies, nuances of language and behavior expected in such meetings.
The second speaker (on meetings, minutes of meeting, project proposal writing) for his part gave great emphasis on the sense of responsibility and accountability that should accompany the science that we should know and employ in meetings and writing of the minutes and project proposals. As to science, we can know and skills, we can practice in order to attain our objectives but these would be useless if we do not have the proper attitude to use them well unto good. (He also distributed well-prepared summaries of lessons that appeared practically self-explanatory). He said we can even introduce more commonly used presentations of our ideas without the too legalistic form employed by lawyers. Approving officers should carefully examine what they are signing because they are all answerable to all that they put their signatories on. Once there is a majority of signatories for or against an item, every one of the board members is supposed to have followed the majority decision. “Whether you agree with me or not,” that is the rule of democratic decision: to abide by the majority decision. “Adda kanyayo no mamatikayo, I am just your speaker” he ended.
r
SUNSTAR_Baguio_Michelle Gumabao_2017-06-06.jpg
BAGUIO. Budding volleyball players from Baguio and Benguet learn the basics of serving from Michelle Gumabao of the United VC seeing action in the Philippine Super Liga. The Alaska Power Camp volleyball clinic opened June 5 and will end until the 12th. (Rodolfo Delos Reyes)