ONE PH’s “Tayo-Tayo” featured FSSI Executive Director Mr. Sixto Donato C. Macasaet and LiveGreen President and CEO, Mr. Paris Uy during the teleradyo’s episode about sustainable communities on July 20, 2019.
Hosted by environmental lawyers Atty. Niner Guiao and Atty. Aya de Leon, the whole interview can be viewed at
On May 29, 2019, the Foundation for a Sustainable Society Inc. (FSSI) and its members and partners gathered in Quezon City for the Foundation’s 30th General Assembly, with the theme “Braving Challenges, Sustaining Enterprises.”
The morning session was filled with insightful discussion as resource speakers Ms. Rosalina Dulabay of the Malabog Integrated Enterprises Development Cooperative (MIEDECO) of Davao City, Mr. Freddie Langpaoen of the Self-Reliant Team of La Trinidad Cooperative (SRT Co-op) of Benguet, and Ms. Christie Rowena Plantilla of the Federation of Peoples’ Sustainable Development Cooperative (FPSDC) shared their organization’s experiences and lessons learned in overcoming challenges, as well as using these challenges as opportunities for innovation.
“We cannot do away with organizational problems or challenges as these are necessary ingredients of success,” shared Langpaoen as he recalled how their first few years were the most challenging. “So if you are faced with such, do not easily give up, hold on, and stand your ground,” he said.
FSSI Executive Director Sixto Donato C. Macasaet noted that the beginnings of the three cooperatives may be different, but they all performed similar strategies to sustain their enterprises. He summed these up as 1) Shared ownership, 2) Strong leadership, 3) Service that bring satisfaction to members and customers, and 4) Strong support network.
During the afternoon session, FSSI Board Chairperson Norman Joseph Jiao, Treasurer Sylvia Paraguya and the chairpersons of FSSI committees gave updates and reports on the Foundation’s accomplishments for 2018. FSSI subsidiaries Pilipinas Ecofiber Corporation (PEC) and Cocobind, Inc. also reported their performance in the past year.
“We have weathered a challenging year and we look forward to a brighter future,” said Jiao. “This year, we will be evaluating our 2017-2019 MTDP and draft our new strategic plan. We hope that the challenges we braved in 2018 and the reforms we have instituted will bring us to the achievement of our mission of providing social investments to vulnerable communities to achieve sustainable development,” he added.
The afternoon Business Session was followed by the election of new members of the Board of Trustees and of the Good Governance Committee (GGC). The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE), and National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) join the Association of Foundations (AF), Federation of People’s Sustainable Development Cooperative (FPSDC), National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), and Philippine Cooperative Central Fund Federation (PCF) as new members of the Board. Meanwhile, Mindanao Alliance of Self-Help Society, Inc. – Southern Philippines Educational Center for Cooperatives (MASS-SPECC) and National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) were elected as new members of the GGC.
The Assembly also expressed its gratitude to Ms. June Rodriguez of CONVERGENCE, Ms. Agnes Bolanos of MINCODE, and Mr. Lauro Millan of NCCP, who completed their term as Board members.
The following are the officers and members comprising the new Board of Trustees:
Chairperson: Norman Joseph Jiao (Representing AF)
Vice Chairperson: Lauro Millan (Representing NCCP)
Corporate Secretary: Christie Rowena Plantilla (Representing FPSDC)
Treasurer: Sylvia Paraguya (Representing NATCCO)
Auditor: Betta Socorro Salera (Representing PCF)
Member: Agnes Bolanos (Representing MINCODE)
Member: Reynaldo Antonio Laguda (Representing PBSP)
Pictures of the General Assembly are available at https://www.facebook.com/pg/FSSI.Philippines/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2339955436050114