Silliman University elects new trustees board chair

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The Silliman University’s Board of Trustees (BOT) has elected its new chair upon the resignation of Dr. Leonor M. Briones effective July 1, 2016 who accepted the offer of President Rodrigo Duterte to be a part of his Cabinet as Department of Education secretary.

The new BOT chair is Ricardo Balbido Jr., a media release from the SU Office of Information and Publications said over the weekend. Balbido served as BOT member since 1999, representing the Silliman University Foundation Incorporated (SUFI) and his term will end on May 31, 2020.

Balbido obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration degree, Major in Accounting in Silliman and his Master in Business Administration Full Academics from Ateneo de Manila University. A Certified Public Accountant, he also took a course on Advanced Bank Management Program at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM).

A banker for most of his life, he started his career as assistant branch manager of FNCB Finance Inc. in 1971, and then assistant manager and head of the Credit Department of the BPI Leasing Corporation in 1974.

Balbido then moved to the Bank of the Philippine Islands in 1980 as assistant vice president and became its senior vice president until 1995. From BPI, he became the executive vice president of Dao Heng Bank and eventually its president and chief operating officer until 2000. From 2001 until he retired in 2013, he was the president and CEO of the Philippine Veterans Bank.

Further, as Briones’ position as representative of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) has been left vacant, the BOT also voted as her replacement, trustee Epifania Anfone as a member and chair of the Search Committee for the next SU president.

Board Secretary Grace Sumalpong was also tasked to request the UCCP to nominate for the replacement of Briones and finish her unexpired term as member of the BOT.

The University’s BOT consisted of representatives from three sectors: Silliman Alumni Association Inc. (SAAI), SUFI and UCCP. (FREEMAN)