The Board of Directors recently attended a couple of seminars/trainings to further their understanding of EC operations and become more effective in policymaking.

A training course in Electric Power Industry Structure, Market, and Regulation or EPIRA 101 was conducted by the University of the Philippines-National Engineering Center and the National Electrification Administration last June 15-17, 2009 at the National Engineering Center, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

The said training is one requirement of NEA for newly-elected directors which would enable them to get a better insight of the technical nature of the electric power industry amidst the challenges being faced by electric cooperatives (ECs). Directors Benjamin Estrella (Dinalupihan), Edna Cruz (Hermosa), Mauro Bernales (Orani), Vicente dela Fuente (Abucay), Carlito Enriquez Sr (Balanga), Christopher Pizarro (Pilar), Ma. Lilibeth Fuster
(Orion), Alberto Villaruz (Limay), Almario Rubia (Mariveles), Danilo Ricardo (Bagac), and Leila Muñoz (Morong) attended the training.

A seminar on Strategies and Approaches in Conducting Effective Board Meetings was also held at Hotel Veniz, Baguio City last June 23-24, 2009. It was organized by the Philippine Rural Electrification Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA) in coordination with Padrose Management Training and Consultancy Services. The seminar aimed to impart the importance and benefits of an effective board meeting by adopting rules and procedures that is acceptable to the majority of the board if not all members. Directors Cruz, V. dela Fuente, Enriquez, Pizarro, Fuster, Villaruz, and Ricardo participated in the seminar.

Both undertakings were handled with directors from other ECs, it became an avenue for them to interact with one another and compare notes on how they oversee the management of the Cooperative.