97th GBM Members and Representatives: (Seated) Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua, Deputy Director General, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Incoming GB Chairman; H.E. Chris Vihruri, Ambassador of Papua New Guinea and Outgoing GB Chairman; Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub, CPSC Director General and GB Member Secretary
(Standing) Ms. Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez, Executive Director, DFA – UNIO; Ms. Neevia Kurup, Second Secretary, Embassy of Malaysia; H.E. Maj. Gen. John Gomes, PSC (Retd), Ambassador of Bangladesh; H.E. Hirubalan V.P., Ambassador of Singapore and Incoming Vice Chairman; H.E. Safdar Hayat, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr. N. Ram Prasad, First Secretary (Commerce and Education), Embassy of India and Mrs. H.M.G.R.R.K.W. MENDIS, Charge d’ Affaires, a.i., Embassy of Sri Lanka

The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) Governing Board (GB) convened its 97th session on June 26, 2014 at the CPSC Headquarters in Manila, Philippines. The Board took up seven agenda items including the Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2013–2014, Proposed Operational Plan and Budget for Fiscal Year 2014–2015, Report of the Standing Committee on updates on Staff Norms and Conditions of Service, Renewal of Service of GB Engaged Faculty Consultant, and Selection of External Financial Auditors; Ways and means on enhancing CPSC for the benefit of the member countries – CPSC Centers, Enhancement of APACC Operations and Services, and Roofing of CPSC Park; and the Election and Turnover of Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship of the GB.

The launching of the new Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) room was held just before the meeting.


Inauguration of the APACC Room

The meeting was presided by H.E. Chris Vihruri, Chairman of the CPSC GB and Ambassador of Papua New Guinea to the Philippines and was co-chaired by Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua, Deputy Director General for TESD Operations, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippines.

Aside from the CPSC Director General and Member Secretary Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub, other attendees include the Ambassador of Bangladesh, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Ambassador of Singapore, Charge d’ Affaires of the Embassy of Sri Lanka, representative of Ambassador of India, representative of Ambassador of Malaysia, and representative from the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations (UNIO), Department of Foreign Affairs Philippines.

The Board commended CPSC for recording the highest ever number of participation, most number of programs, with high participants’ satisfaction and end-of-course performance.

The election and turnover of leadership took place as the last agendum of the meeting. The CPSC Director General explained that CPSC elects the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board on rotational basis, following alphabetical order of countries represented. Atty. Teodoro Pascua, TESDA Deputy Director General and H.E. Hirubalan V.P., Ambassador of Singapore, accepted the Chairmanship and Vice–Chairmanship of the GB respectively for Fiscal Year 2014–2015. The outgoing Chairman H.E. Chris Vihruri was presented a Plaque of Recognition for his leadership during his term.

The 98th GB Meeting will be held on January 29, 2015 (Thursday).


Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub presenting the Plaque of Recognition to outgoing GB Chairman, H.E. Chris Vihruri