PHILSSA - PHILSSA Holds Its 19th General Assembly

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PHILSSA Holds Its 19th General Assembly

Last 22-23 April 2009, PHILSSA held its 19th general assembly at the Institute of Social Order. This was attended by the network’s 43 member-organizations from all over the country.

During the activity, Mr. Benedict Balderrama, PHILSSA’s national coordinator, gave an overview of the internal and external programs and advocacies of the network for the past year. The advocacies, particularly the agenda of the Urban Poor Alliance (UPALL) was further discussed and presented by Mr. Nicasio de Rosas, PHILSSA’s advocacy officer. Ms. Jennifer Cruz, the network’s finance and administrative supervisor, presented the financial report for 2008.

With the 2010 elections only several months away, a forum on Change Politics was also held, with Ms. Dinky Soliman of Incite-Gov/PhilCOS as resource person.

The assembly also welcomed the five new PHILSSA member-organizations—Katotohanan, Pagkakaisa at Serbisyo – Small Enterprise and Economic Development, Inc. (KPS-SEED); Institutional Network for Social Action (INSA); Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation, Inc. (JVOFI); Sentro sa Maayong Magbalantay, Inc. (SMMI); and Kabatan-onan nga Aktibo Ug Responsableng Dabawenyo Andam Moalagad sa Sosyodad (KARDAMS). This brings the total membership of PHILSSA to 52.

Thematic cluster meetings were also held to discuss cluster achievements in the past year and create plans for the current year. In addition to the 5 thematic clusters (Gender and Development, Children and Youth, Microfinance, Local Governance, and Health and Environment), the assembly approved the formation of the Land and Housing Cluster.

During the assembly, the regional clusters also selected their regional representatives. The newly appointed regional representatives for 2009 are:

PHILSSA NCR Cluster: John J. Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues (JJCICSI)
PHILSSA Luzon Cluster: Bicol Center for Community Development, Inc. (BCCDI)
PHILSSA Visayas Cluster: Cebu Labor Education, Advocacy and Research Center (CLEAR)
PHILSSA Mindanao Cluster: San Lorenzo Ruiz Socio-Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (SALORSEDFI)

The general assembly also voted new board members to take the seats of those whose terms have ended. The new members of the board are: Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN), Social Involvement Coordinating Office (SICO), Community Development and Volunteer Formation Office (BALAYAN), and the Ateneo Social Science Research Center (ASSRC).

Below is the composition of PHILSSA’s Board of Trustees for 2009.

Chair: Community Organizers Multiversity (COM)
Vice Chair: Community Organization of the Philippines Enterprise Foundation, Inc. (COPE)
Secretary: John J. Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues (JJCICSI)
Treasurer: San Lorenzo Ruiz Socio-Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (SALORSEDFI)

Regional Representatives
PHILSSA NCR: John J. Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues (JJCICSI)
PHILSSA Luzon: Bicol Center for Community Development, Inc. (BCCDI)
PHILSSA Visayas: Cebu Labor Education, Advocacy and Research Center (CLEAR)
PHILSSA Mindanao: San Lorenzo Ruiz Socio-Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (SALORSEDFI)

Other Board Members:
Health Alternatives for Total Human Development Institute (HealthDev)
Katotohanan, Pagkakaisa at Serbisyo (KPS)
Oro Habitat for Humanity, Inc. (OHHI)
Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN)
Social Involvement Coordinating Office (SICO)
Community Development and Volunteer Formation Office (BALAYAN)
Ateneo Social Science Research Center (ASSRC)

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