Features PERAA

SHE symbolizes the changing face of PERAA, the first lady president leading the country’s only non-profit, multi-employer retirement plan exclusive to private education. Recently, she was elected as President of the Association of Women President/Chancellors of Private Colleges and Universities (SOPHIA), an association of women presidents who are 'educational leaders,' and "involved women who will promote social, economic and political growth of women and Filipinos in general".

Ms. Bernadette Nepomuceno is a 'hands-on' president who does not think a school too small to deserve her visit. She takes to heart, quite seriously, a defining feature of PERAA, which is its being open to all schools regardless of size and stature. PERAA is definitely considerate of the small schools which would not be given a chance to join big retirement plan providers. She has been clear in her stand that she does not necessarily want PERAA to be the biggest – but she certainly wants it to be the best, most reliable and trusted retirement plan provider whether in profitability, operating competence or its record on safety and sustainability.

When the global market was sending out warnings of impending financial stress that could affect the financial stability of local economy, Ms. Nepomuceno took a cue and acted on it fast by personally visiting the members from as far as the Cordillera Region down to the Moslem Area of Central Mindanao. She believes that meeting the members and discussing PERAA’s status is an appropriate way to assure them of PERAA’s viability.

Being the former president of Holy Angel University and Trustee at-large in the PERAA Board, Ms. Nepomuceno understands fully well the concerns of school administrators including their obligations to the employees. On the first trimester of fiscal year 2009-2010, Ms. Nepomuceno visited at least 24 Participating Institutions (PIs), nationwide, soaking her hands in issues concerning finance, benefits and PERAA operations, among others. The list includes Cebu Doctors' College, Cebu Institute of Technology, Father Saturnino Urios University, Brokenshire College of Davao, San Pedro College, Assumption College, Angelicum School, Assumption University and University of the Cordilleras.

Aside from periodically getting in touch with Participating Institutions, Ms. Nepomuceno is also at the forefront in the campaign trail for additional members for PERAA, focusing on retirement fund awareness and helping private schools administrators deal with the demanding requirements of RA 7641. Despite the difficulty faced by the economy last year, PERAA PIs stood by the Association and more schools still manifested their interest in the association. The early part of fiscal year 2009-2010 saw positive gleams in the performance of PERAA. In her recent visits to member schools in Cebu and Mindanao, zeroing on the association’s performance on the first trimester, Ms. Nepomuceno noted an intensified confidence in PERAA among the members.•

"The essence of good leadership is the courage to do what you believe is right when it is unpopular and the skills to bring people of differing viewpoints together to get things done." -Joe Lieberman, US Senator