Another Cebuano to the executive dep’t

If not for the hubbub in the Capitol surrounding the suspension of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Cebu would be loudly applauding the appointment of Mercedes D. Castillo as member of the Board of Administrators, representing Visayas in the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

Ched, as the newly appointed CDA board administrator is fondly called, is currently the chief executive officer of Visayas Cooperative Development Center or Victo National, a post that she will relinquish at the end of the year.

Victo is one of the leading secondary Co-ops in the country and is well recognized for mentoring co-operatives nationwide.

Its contribution to socio-economic development, particularly its impact on poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration is validated by the strength of 218 direct affiliates and aggregate assets estimated at P9 billion plus. Victo National counts at least 800,000 individual members comprising of farmers, fishermen, students, homemakers, professionals, entrepreneurs, vendors, and indigenous peoples.

The federation’s entry into the global stage as a member of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) among other global allies provides a striking context to the growth of the sector not just in the Philippines but also worldwide. Co-operatives have become “mainstream” or generally accepted.  In fact, it is being touted as the economic model to replace capitalism, whose dismal performance was highlighted by the collapse of Wall Street and European financial institutions in 2008. Observers say the current economic crisis in the European Union and even in the United States is an argument against the capitalist system.

* * *

I happened to meet Ched in early 2011 when I was invited to attend a number of news conferences to drum up support for the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives (IYC). The United Nations observance had for its main driver the International Cooperative Alliance.  After the ICA Asia Pacific launched a search for co-ops with best practices, Ched asked me to document outstanding affiliates in Surallah, South Cotabato and another in Escalante, Negros Occidental. The project was later localized after the Victo board approved the documentation of outstanding affiliates, to be compiled in a book entitled, “Stories Worth Telling”. The book is set to be released in May 2013.

I got to know Ched better through interaction with her co-workers in the sector. Last May, we both shared a room at the Stotsenberg Hotel in Clark, Pampanga for the federation’s 43rd annual convention. I sometimes marvel at her boundless energy, finding time to attend small group discussions after a full day of board meetings, like in October this year when I updated the Victo board about the status of the book project. That meeting came at the close of a two-day National Cooperative Summit held in Cagayan de Oro City.

The opportunity to climb up the professional ladder came rather serendipitously. A P-Noy backer whom I will not name had been previously asked to sit in the CDA board but he declined and recommended instead Castillo to the post.

Developments moved very fast and when Ched told me about her career move some time last month, I could sense she was quite overwhelmed. She was up to it, but needed time to wrap things up in the federation. Apparently the appointment dated Oct. 9 could no longer be shelved and last Dec. 7, she took her oath before Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

Castillo holds a degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Major in Horticulture from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, and studied Master in Business Administration in Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City. She practically climbed up the professional ladder in Victo, first as Project officer, moving to administrative and executive duties prior to her appointment as CEO in 2008.

She brings to CDA a wealth of experience honed by her stint as Victo chief executive, a period that she described as “very intense”. Many affiliates previously adopted computer technology and this became a factor in their unstoppable growth. This, even as the sector was going through a lot of rationalization.

Castillo leaves behind a number of worthy projects that will have enormous impact in the agricultural and health sectors. For lack of space, I will write about it in succeeding articles.

I spoke to Ched last week and although she is upbeat about her new assignment, I know she will bid a tearful goodbye.  She will chair, that is, organize and facilitate for the last time, the federation’s General Assembly meeting in early January 2013. In other words, she will be rolling up her sleeves instead of waving goodbye and on that note I think it would be difficult for Victo to fill up her shoes.

On the other hand, I can only say that the Aquino administration could not have appointed a more qualified, deserving and highly motivated CDA board member.

Congratulations, Hon. Mercedes Castillo!

And here’s wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!