MAP bankrupt?

The Management Association of the Philippines is reportedly bankrupt due to impaired receivables and has allegedly been losing money since 2005, accumulating so many expenses for many of its advocacy projects. The depletion of the MAP funds is probably the reason why last year, the 2010 Board of Directors approved a policy that increased the annual dues of regular members from P3,000 to P5,500 with a mandatory “special assessment” of P6,000 for everyone including life members, past presidents and those who have been regular members for 20 consecutive years.   

But what especially got the ire of so many of its members is the threatening circular which stated that those who fail to pay the P6,000 special assessment fee will be (presumably unceremoniously) dropped from the list of members and will be considered terminated from MAP. For a supposedly non-profit professional organization that is said to be a paradigm of good governance and accountability, some observers say it’s rather disconcerting to see members bullied into complying with a policy that’s obviously meant to gloss over the fact that MAP’s funds may have been depleted due to mismanagement – the irony of ironies since the best managers in the country are supposed to be its members!

While the assessment fee is a relatively small amount, the unfavorable reaction stemmed from the perception that members are being forced to comply with a policy that was not even subjected to discussions and consultations among them. As a result, many who have contributed money and personal resources for projects have signified their intention to leave the association in apparent disgust.

How can a group whose members are supposed to be the best managers in the Philippines – the “cream of the crop” among top management both in the public and private sector – fail to manage its own organization? After all, many of the projects undertaken by MAP are supposed to promote management excellence and advocacy on reforms that will help shape a brighter future for the country. If nothing is done soon according to a disgruntled member, there will be an avalanche of people leaving the Management Association of the Philippines with the new MAP president Jun Palafox left holding an empty bag – literally and figuratively.

Swiss precision

Marenco Swiss Helicopter will be unveiling a revolutionary concept in the helicopter industry via the light single turbine SKYe SH09 at the 2011 Heli Expo in Orlando, Florida this week. Positioned in the 2.5 metric ton class, the first Swiss-made helicopter is designed for an exceptional hot and high performance with a flexible engine signature due to the newly-developed dynamic assembly and a shrouded tail rotor.  

The high ceiling concept plus the modularity of the cabin allows for multiple seating arrangements with five to eight individual seats and facilitated rear access loading through the clamshell doors for a variety of cargo including medical stretchers – making it flexible for passenger transport as well as emergency and evacuation jobs. In short, the SKYe SH09 combines a high level of systems integration with extensive flexibility. As a single platform, it has the capacity to fulfill multi-role missions that would normally require several different aircraft to accomplish. The chopper is designed to perform round the clock and in all weather, with a fast cruise speed of 270 kph. Most of all, it has an extremely low noise not only within the spacious cabin but also at the external level – something that health advocates will definitely appreciate.

While the construction for the first prototypes was started early this year, the first test flights for the precision Swiss aircraft are scheduled to take place in 2012.

Spy tidbit

–– At the wake of former Bulacan Congressman Willie Villarama’s mother, businessman Francis de Borja and former Court of Appeals Justice Jose Sabio’s brother, former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio, inadvertently met up. The former PCGG chief was accused of interfering in the GSIS-Meralco row a couple of years ago, asking his magistrate brother to favor the government agency in the case. Justice Sabio eventually disclosed Camilo’s attempts in a six-page affidavit and also claimed that an unnamed businessman had tried to broker for one of the parties in the dispute. De Borja later surfaced, claiming to be the unnamed businessman and alleging that Justice Sabio had an interest in the Meralco case because he was promised a promotion by the government. De Borja also said that Sabio admitted being offered a bribe to favor GSIS. The case was later dismissed. But as they say, time does heal all wounds, and former PCGG Chairman Camilo Sabio came up to De Borja and graciously greeted him in spite of their past enmity.

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