QUEDANCOR News Release

QUEDANCOR NAMES NEW OFFICER-IN-CHARGE

The Governing Board of the Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corporation (QUEDANCOR) has designated Board Secretary Atty. Armando R. Crobalde, Jr. to oversee the Corporation’s operational activities as Officer-In-Charge.

Prior to his appointment, Atty. Crobalde served as Division Chief and later on as Vice-President of the QUEDANCOR Public Information Office. He was also the Chief of Staff of the agency’s Office of the President serving past two heads of office.

Given his relatively young experience within the corporate portals of QUEDANCOR, Atty. Crobalde is expected to infuse new ideas and invigorate the company’s corporate direction through introduction of new policies and innovative strategies en route to addressing the core needs of QUEDANCOR, specifically on its collection drive and operational sustainability efforts, all part of the rehabilitation and recovery initiative currently being undertaken by QUEDANCOR through the guidance of its Governing Board.

Atty. Crobalde obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the Far Eastern University and passed the Bar in 2005. He spent his high school and tertiary years at the Ateneo de Manila University where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

 

QUEDANCOR WELCOMES 

NEW OIC-PRESIDENT

As part of boosting the agency’s credit and guarantee activities, the Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corporation (QUEDANCOR) Governing Board chaired by Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala  has recently named a new Officer In Charge-President (OIC-President) to acclaim stewardship and oversee corporate operations in the person of Atty. Rodolfo T. Paz, Jr.

A lawyer by profession, Atty. Paz obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from San Beda College (SBC) in 1975. It was also at SBC where he finished his undergraduate course in BSC Accounting.

After passing the Bar examination in 1975, Atty. Paz started his career in the public sector. Serving first as a Legal Officer II with the Export Processing Zone Authority in 1976, he was eventually transferred and assigned as Port Manager of the Navotas Fish Port Complex (NFPC), the largest fish port in the country and later on appointed as Operations Manager of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) for 16 years, from 1986 to 2002.

Buoyed by significant developments in the operations behind the country’s key fishport complexes under his stead as PFDA operations head, Atty. Paz was later named as Assistant General Manager of the organization and eventually as General Manager of the PFDA on February 2011, prior to him being chosen as QUEDANCOR Officer In Charge-President. 

During his stint as PFDA GM, Atty. Paz introduced policy reforms in promoting transparency in business transactions and similar dealings of the PFDA. He also initiated involvement of key stakeholders of the Authority by organizing dialogues among various fishery groups.

Given his vast experience and expertise in public management, the QUEDANCOR Governing Board has expressed optimism that Atty. Paz will be able to significantly lead the Corporation into becoming an effective contributor to the local agri-fishery development by addressing the agri-fishery credit and guarantee needs of the local farmers, fisherfolk and agricultural workers.




(Posted: 30 April 2012)

NEW OFFICER-IN-CHARGE

The Governing Board of the Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corporation (QUEDANCOR) has recently designated a senior executive of the agency to oversee the agency’s operations as Officer-In-Charge.

Senior Vice-President for Loans Management Alexander B. Butic has been tasked to provide stewardship in steering QUEDANCOR’s corporate activities, given his more than 35 years of service in the public sector highlighted by his vast experience and well-known expertise in the field of the Corporation’s credit and guarantee operations.

His career in government commenced when he was employed as Public Relations Officer and later, concurrent Field Investigator of the National Grains Authority (NGA), the frontrunner of today’s National Food Authority (NFA). Working at the agency’s Ifugao branch, Mr. Butic rendered quality hours of work and dedication to his profession, which later on earned him a stint with the fledgling Quedan Guarantee Fund Board (QGFB) in 1980.

Among his highlights during his stint with the QGFB included being part of the pioneering pool of personnel who were assigned to the provinces to promote the Grains Quedan Financing Program.  His tasks also included the inspection of warehouses intended for franchising and also trained prospective Operation Officers who were hired to further supplement the expanding agency at the time. Mr. Butic also prepared press and photo releases and conducted media conferences and interviews as part of promoting the programs of the QGFB.

However, his true value and essence is imbued in his innate knowledge and thorough understanding of the intricacies and nuances of quedan financing, thanks to the on the job training and first-hand experience under QGFB Executive Director Galo B. Garchitorena. Also known as the Father of Quedan Financing, Mr. Garchitorena took Mr. Butic under his wing, thus enabling the young officer to witness and learn the various concepts and ideas besetting the programs of quedan financing and how they relate to existing policies of the Philippine agri-fishery sector. Mr. Butic values the importance of private banks to the quedan program, as their participation means fund infusion to stimulate agricultural credit.

Given his noteworthy performance in his duties, Mr. Butic was accorded seniority status within the hierarchy of the organization. He is the only officer to be designated as Senior Assistant Vice-President with the dual role as head of the Agri-Aqua Division and Assistant to the Vice-President for Operations. 

During his time as VP for Field Services Department, Mr. Butic was designated as Acting Executive Vice-President for Operations and Planning, overseeing the activities of the Credit and Guarantee Department, Planning Services Office and Legal Affairs Department. Later on he was named as Senior Vice-President for Corporate Services and then as SVP for Loans Management. His leadership expertise in manning the Corporation was a premium factor in him being assigned as Caretaker for the agency during periods of time wherein the former Officer-In-Charge and eventual President and CEO had to be on official leave from work. 

Now with his new role as the Corporation’s head steward, Mr. Butic is charged with revitalizing the Corporation’s agricultural credit and guarantee programs that would help develop the Philippine agri-fishery sector.

QUEDANCOR HOLDS SEMINAR ON CIVIL CONDUCT AND PUBLIC ETHICS

As part of the agency’s moral renewal program, the Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corporation (QUEDANCOR) held a series of seminars discussing the tenets of civil service and public sector ethics among Central Office and nationwide personnel.

The values enhancement seminar debuted with Civil Service Commission (CSC) Field Office Director Dr. Cardito L. Callangan as the resource person who digressed the concept of Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Employees. This is an important step in harnessing the mindset of the QUEDANCOR workforce into functioning as an effective unit in the field of public service, says Callangan.

The value of instilling the proper approach and mindset in the way that state employees act in accordance to their duties as civil servants are often lost in the mired world of bureaucracy, thus paving the way for erroneous acts detrimental to the image of a public worker, such as graft, corruption, extortion and the like.  

Dr. Callangan discussed that QUEDANCOR, just as in every government agency, should act in accordance to the guidelines set by RA 6713. It entails the participation of every employee, considered as the lifeblood of a company or office, into exhausting their duties as pledged by their allegiance to the country’s civil service.

Among the salient points that Dr. Callangan stressed in his presentation included proper observation regarding transactions with fellow public employees as well as those affiliated with private and public entities. These should be presented with clear and effective methods of interaction, as well as being able to process assignments and tasks at the most timely and efficiently manner.

He also suggests that the QUEDANCOR employees should embed the norms of commitment, professionalism, justness and sincerity, public responsiveness, nationalism and patriotism, committed to the idea of democracy, and most importantly, simple living or living within your means as a public worker, since the service rendered is more important that the amount of compensation received.

The last aspect of trying to live a simple life has been a difficult goal to achieve, especially nowadays that there have been reports and cases filed against government officials and employees who have committed acts pertaining to their grand and extravagant lifestyle.

In order to adhere to this objective, state workers are encouraged to strengthen their mores and value system so that they would be able to understand that the realm of public service is concentrated more on rendering the best possible assistance to the people rather than receiving exorbitant monetary benefits.

Discipline and the willingness to serve are also very essential qualities in being a civil servant. Dr. Callangan mentioned that following these rules may be easy as they seem, but he stressed it is the fervent commitment to the craft of public service, especially to those belonging to the workforce of QUEDANCOR, that should be observed in order to fully imbue these qualities towards the eventual development of the worker and will grow and progress towards the whole system of government bureaucracy as well.

The success of this day-long seminar has prompted the management of QUEDANCOR to hold a similar workshop for the rank and file employees assigned to the Central Office, with different batches being involved for several weeks.  Similarly, those based in the regional and district offices will be undertaking similar seminars to be conducted by personnel coming from the Administrative Services Department (ASD) and the Manpower Resources Division (MRD).

By holding such corporate in-house events, it is presumed that QUEDANCOR will be able to strengthen and enhance the moral ascendancy among workers as part of the Corporation’s rehabilitation efforts.    

QUEDANCOR Code of Ethics Training goes Nationwide

In order to further promote the essential values of corporate ethics and the mores of public service, the QUEDANCOR management has directed the ASD and the MRD personnel to hold similar seminars in the field offices of the agency.

Led by Vice-President for Administrative Services Alberto Guevarra, the selected employees made the initial rounds around the Central and Southern Luzon areas, namely in Pampanga, Batangas, Sorsogon, Isabela and La Union.

According to Vice-President Guevarra, the seminar opened the field people to a new vision of receptiveness and expressed a newfound optimism with the Corporation. Personally, he was awed at the reaction of the personnel especially in Sorsogon, where the field people channeled their appreciation to the Central Office for extending an arm and an ear to voice out their concerns and to clear some space regarding issues bestowing the Corporation.

“The field personnel were likewise grateful that the corporate management has led forth their presence in the provincial areas, becoming an avenue in which we, the people from the Central office, are able to train them adequately in understanding the facets of public service while at the same time acting as a conduit in which they can voice their thoughts and to clarify matters regarding their welfare, such as the Rationalization Plan and the filing of administrative cases against erring co-workers,” notes the ASD head.

VP Guevarra also added that these seminars help promote an atmosphere of stability and unity among the network of field employees, in particular bridging the relationship of the Central Office to the regional units especially during the time of corporate rehabilitation and recovery. This collegial interaction also becomes an avenue in strengthening further the image of the QUEDANCOR employee, becoming a well-rounded individual that encapsulates the essence of a civil servant.

“In order for our agency to move forward from within the crisis, as per from our President and CEO, we have to mold the people, the human resource of QUEDANCOR which I believe is our best asset. Through this training and other similar modules to come, we will be able to enhance our manpower and in turn, would greatly benefit the image and operations of the Corporation as we continue on our journey towards erstwhile recovery.” concludes VP Guevarra.

He also added that the ASD is coordinating with the Credit and Guarantee Department, the Finance Cluster and other departments to utilize skilled personnel who are adept in the fields of marketing, investigation and finance and to have them act as resource persons for succeeding corporate in-house seminars and trainings.