The International Center for Innovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov) conducted its 14th Annual General Assembly (GA) virtually on May 9, amidst the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) that is still being implemented in some parts of the country, including Metro Manila, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unlike the previous meetings, this year’s GA agenda focused mainly on two matters: the election of new board members and the approval of the proposed amendments to the organization’s by-laws.

The online voting and referendum drew the participation of 32 INCITEGov members — an 80 percent voter turnout — who casted their votes by answering an online form. Weeks prior, they were also asked to nominate individuals whom they wish will serve as part of the organization’s Board of Trustees (BOT).

Two new trustees were elected as a result of the online voting, namely: former education secretary Dr. Edilberto De Jesus and former Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) trustee Dr. Mario Aguja. They will replace outgoing trustees Victoria Garchitorena and lawyer Hector Soliman, who also served as INCITEGov’s corporate secretary.

Additionally, five members of the current board were re-elected to serve another term: Luisito Montalbo, Rosalie Romero, Maria Cleofe Gettie Sandoval, Dr. Philip Arnold Tuaño and Veronica Villavicencio.

They will all serve for a period of three years. The new BOT is expected to meet soon to elect the officers of the organization.

Meanwhile, the GA also approved the following amendments to INCITEGov’s by-laws during the online referendum:

• On Article IV: Functions and Powers of Officers – A section was added creating the Executive Committee and identifying its members and functions;

• On Article V: Membership and Committees – Six sections were added creating the four standing committees of INCITEGov —  Audit, Membership, Resource Mobilization, and Information, Communications and Publication — and identifying their respective functions and members; and

• On Article VII: Fund – Section 1 was revised to stipulate that “grants from local and international sources” can be a source of funding for the organization.

Accordingly, the modifications will be reflected in INCITEGov’s official documents and will be sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission for their notation and approval.

The members were also provided with a copy of INCITEGov’s programmatic and financial reports for the grant period of May 2019 to May 2020. However, instead of holding a virtual session to discuss the content, the reports were simply disseminated online with an instruction for the members to review and give their feedback.

The 2020 Annual Report contains the following: (1) INCITEGov’s activities and accomplishments in the past year; (2) a detailed explanation on the current political landscape that necessitated the shift in the organization’s strategic direction as well as the realignment of its two program tracks, Growing the Movement and Growing P-G-D Discourse and Action; and (3) pertinent institutional updates, including INCITEGov’s response to the current pandemic situation.

A copy of the annual report can be accessed here.

“The coming year will perhaps see the most perilous of times, made more dangerous because of absent governance, weakened institutions and abusive political leadership seeking to perpetuate itself,” Teresita Quintos Deles, INCITEGov chairperson, wrote in the report.

“With great trepidation but also courage and faith do we move forward,” she added. #