Her leadership momentum was underscored recently as she received the inaugural GCG Leadership Award, the first distinction of its kind from the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) in its 15-year history.
Why it matters
The recognition adds institutional weight to CDC’s reform path at a time when GOCCs are being pressed to deliver accountability, efficiency, and inclusive growth—all central pillars of the GCG Law.
The award was presented on Dec. 1 by former Senator Franklin Drilon, GCG Chair Atty. Marius Corpus, GCG Commissioner Atty. Geraldine Berberabe-Martinez, and Finance Undersecretary Rolando Tungpalan.
What Devanadera said
“This award is not just a personal honor—it is a call to action. Public office is a public trust, and we must ensure that GOCCs remain instruments of progress, generating revenues that fund hospitals, roads, bridges, and programs that uplift marginalized communities. Inclusive growth is our shared responsibility,” Devanadera said in her acceptance message.
Reforms reshaping CDC
The GCG cited Devanadera for reforms that modernized CDC’s operations and improved the investment climate in Clark. Among these:
CDC was also recognized for community-centered programs that improved access to essential goods and services for workers and nearby residents.
A shift toward rule-based governance
In her remarks, Devanadera reflected on the sector’s transformation from tradition-based decision-making to a “clear legal framework.”
“We now work within a clear legal framework. We have standards, and we take them seriously,” she said.
She added: “The bottom line is transparency, discipline, commitment, love for country, and being serious with our work.”
Inclusive growth at the core
Atty. Devanadera pressed for governance that reaches workers at the base of the organizational pyramid.
“We all benefit from CPCS I and II, but we must also look at those below—the minimum wage earners, the lowest in the ladder of compensation,” she said.
She cited CDC’s “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! sa Clark” program as an example: “I remembered the glitter in their eyes as they bought rice at P20 per kilo and received Noche Buena packages.
That is the challenge before us, to uplift the lowest in the ladder so we can achieve inclusive growth.”
CDC also received a separate citation as one of the top-ranking GOCCs in the 2024 Corporate Governance Scorecard. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
