Articles of Association
1. | There shall be established a Philippine Business Council of Abu Dhabi with head office address at 8th floor, Al Nowais Bldg., Tourist Club Area, P.O. Box 984, Abu Dhabi. |
2. | The Philippine Business Council – Abu Dhabi Chapter shall be a non-profit organization. |
The objectives of the Council shall be: | |
1. | To provide the opportunity for Philippine businesspersons in Abu Dhabi who are connected with companies that have a presence in the U.A.E/ to meet on a regular basis and to act as a forum for the exchange of ideas and information related to current and expected business opportunities. |
2. | To establish and maintain networks and linkages with organizations in the U.A.E. and the Philippines dedicated to the development of bilateral trade, investment and tourism, and undertake such activities that will further these objectives. |
3. | To assist Philippine companies and businesspersons establishing or contemplating the establishment of a trading base in the U.A.E., especially in Abu Dhabi. |
4. | To promote entrepreneurship by conducting professional business development programs and exchange of business/trade delegations, and related projects. |
1. | There shall be three different categories of membership. These are: |
There shall be three different categories of membership. These are: | |
a. | Corporate Full Membership shall be open to companies established in the U.A.E. or in the Philippines, having Philippine shareholding and/or management. |
a.1 | Each Corporate Member shall designate an official representative to attend Council functions, i.e. meetings. |
a.2 | Each Corporate Member may also nominate an alternate who may attend Council functions in the absence of the designated representative. Every alternate shall be an employee of the Corporate Member. The names and other relevant details of the designated representative and his/her alternate shall be registered with the Executive Committee of any change in representation. |
a.3 | A Corporate Member may not transfer its membership to another corporation. It may, however, change its designated representative and alternate in accordance with the provisions of the constitution. |
b. | Individual Full Membership shall be open only to natural born Filipinos and naturalized Philippine citizens and as well as the foreign spouses of Filipinos who are proprietors or partners of businesses, or senior executives of companies established in the U.A.E. |
c. | There shall be no restriction on the number of member in the Council. |
d. | With the exception of the founding members, every new member shall officially be recommended by a member and seconded by another. |
e. | The Executive Committee will review every application for membership and decide whether it is to be accepted. The Executive Committee shall have sole and absolute discretion in the determination of eligibility and acceptance. |
f. | Every member shall notify the Executive Committee of any impending change in its status that might affect its eligibility for membership, and the Executive Committee will be entitled to review the status of members at its discretion. |
a. | Individuals or companies who are neither non-Philippine citizens nor Philippine companies but who are agents trading in the U.A.E. on behalf of Philippine companies. In all such cases, however, the application must be accompanied by a written request from the Philippine company asking the Executive Committee to consider its agent for Associate Membership. In addition, the applicant shall provide an outline of its overall business operation, paying particular regard to the proportion of its activity that is related to the promotion of goods or services originating from the Philippines. |
b. | The Executive Committee, at its sole discretion and upon unanimous vote, may accept applications for nominations as Associate Members from individuals who have certain close associations with the Philippines, and who have demonstrated an affinity towards the Philippines over a period of time. |
c. | The number of Associate Members shall be restricted to not more than 25% of the number of Full Members. |
d. | Associate Members shall be officially recommended by any Full Member and seconded by another, and any such application shall be subject to approval by the Executive Committee. |
a. | Non-Philippine citizens residing in the U.A.E. holding senior positions in the public or private sector may be invited by the Chairman after obtaining the unanimous approval of the Executive Committee, to become Honorary Members of the Council. |
b. | Honorary Members shall not have the right to vote. |
c. | The number of Honorary Members shall be restricted to not more than 25% of the number of Full Members and shall not exceed the number of Associate Members. |
d. | Honorary Members are exempt from membership dues, and the regulations governing Honorary Members shall be determined by the Executive Committee. |
e. | Honorary and Associate Memberships are personal, therefore they are not entitled to either transfer such membership or nominate alternates to attend council functions in their place. |
1. | The fiscal year of the Council shall be from 1st of April to 31st of March. |
2. | The Council shall have an independent Honorary Auditor who shall be elected by the members. |
3. | The Executive Council shall arrange for the accounts of the Council to be audited at the end of each fiscal year and for a report from the Honorary Auditor to be presented to members at the Annual General Meeting. |
1. | The Executive Committee shall call an Annual General Meeting once each year. Business at the Annual General Meeting shall include (but not limited to) a Report of the Executive Committee, Honorary Auditor’s Report, election of the Executive Committee and election of the Honorary Auditor. |
2. | The Executive Committee may also call for a Special General Meeting if it becomes aware of matters of sufficient importance to the Council that should, in the Executive Committee’s opinion, be put forth to the members for a vote. |
3. | The Executive Committee may also call for a Special General Meeting if it receives written notification signed by no less than seven (7) paid up Full Members of the Council that they wish for such Special General Meeting to be called. Said notification must include an outline of the issues that the group wishes to put forth before the members for a vote. |
4. | The Executive Committee shall provide the membership not less than four (4) weeks’ written notice by post, email or fax that a General Meeting has been cancelled. |
5. | Only paid Full Members of the Council shall be entitled to vote at a General Meeting. Voting will be by simple majority and proxy votes will be permitted on such terms as the Executive Committee may establish. In the event of a tie, the Chairman shall cast the tie-breaking vote. |
1. | The affairs of the Council shall be administered by an Executive Council of nine (9) elected members, all of whom shall be Philippine citizens. In addition, the past Chairman and the Philippine Trade Representative shall be invited to join the Executive Committee as ex-officio members. |
2. | The Executive Committee shall elect among themselves the Officers of the Council, which shall include a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. |
3. | The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the planning and implementation of the Council’s activities. |
4. | The Executive Committee shall be solely responsible for accepting or rejecting applications for membership, and will not be obliged to explain its decisions. |
5. | The Executive Committee is authorized to open and operate bank accounts in the name of the Council, and Executive Committee members shall from time to time, designate at least three (3) signatories on all bank accounts from among themselves. |
6. | The Executive Committee may constitute sub-committees and invite any member of the Council to assist the Executive Committee or serve in a sub-committee. |
7. | The Executive Committee may engage staff and obtain office and other facilities as considered necessary, the costs of which shall be paid out of membership fees. |
1. | The Executive Committee, which shall be composed of nine (9) members, shall be elected from among the nominated representatives of paid up members of the Council at the Annual General Meeting to be held each year, with the exception of the first Executive Committee which shall be elected from among the founding members who will serve until the First Annual General Meeting. The same committee shall elect among themselves (1) Chairman, (1) Vice-Chairman, (1) Secretary, (1) Treasurer and (5) Execom Members. |
2. | The Executive Committee shall serve for one (1) year following the elections and members of the Executive Committee may be elected for subsequent terms. |
3. | Elections shall be by simple majority of the voting members. Proxy votes shall be permitted upon such terms as may be established by the Executive Committee. |
4. | If for any reason a member of the Executive Committee is unable to serve his/her full term, the Executive Committee may fill the vacancy from other members of the Council. |
1. | Every member shall pay an annual membership fee as established by the Executive Committee. Annual membership fees shall be from April to March. New members joining April to September shall pay 100% of the annual fee, while new members joining in October shall pay 50% of the annual fee. |
2. | Fees shall be fixed by the Executive Committee and shall be applied towards administrative and other costs as may be assessed by the Executive Committee from time to time. The Executive Committee has the right to levy additional fees if membership fees are deemed inadequate to cover administrative costs of the Council. |
3. | Membership fees shall not be refunded in case a member resigns. |
4. | Membership fees do not cover/subsidize food/refreshment costs during Council meetings. Members are therefore expected to shoulder this expense as well as that of their guests, if any. |
5. | Annual Membership fee will be payable on or before the 31st of March of each year. |
6. | Membership will be deemed to have lapsed if the annual fee is not paid within the period of time prescribed by the Executive Committee, or prior to the Annual General Meeting, whichever is earlier. |
7. | Should membership lapse due to non-payment of the annual fee, the member concerned may reapply to the Executive Committee for readmission. Upon approval of any such application by the Executive Committee, the outstanding fee for the current year, plus a Dhs 100 administrative fee, shall become due and payable forthwith. |
1. | The Executive Committee will decide and arrange meetings as often as is deemed necessary. |
2. | The Executive Committee may, upon its discretion, open meetings to non-members. |
3. | Members shall be enjoined to furnish inputs to the Executive Committee relative to agendas, topics for discussion, and/or prospective speakers who may either be visitors or local residents. |
1. | Members shall be encouraged to bring visiting businessmen as guests to open meetings or such other meetings that may be deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee may also restrict the number of guests. Any Philippine resident of the U.A.E. who is eligible for membership may also be brought as a guest to a meeting, but no such person shall be a guest more than twice during a calendar year. |
2. | Local guests may also be invited, as deemed appropriate. |
1. | The Secretary shall maintain an up to-date list of all members. |
2. | The Executive Committee will, at its discretion, distribute circulars to members containing information or news considered to be of interest to members. |
3. | Financial and approved records and minutes of meetings shall be open to members upon written request. |
Proposed amendments to the constitution shall be submitted to the Executive Committee with a request for consideration at the Annual or a Special General Meeting. The Executive Committee shall circulate the proposed amendment with the notice of meeting. All amendments shall be properly proposed and seconded, and shall be adopted if approved by a two third majority of members voting at said meeting.
| Designation | Name |
| Chairman | Gau Raganit |
| Vice-Chairman | Brian Carl Campos |
| Director of Membership | Hanie Peralta |
| Director of Trade and Entrepreneurship | Junal Abdullah A. Lami-in |
| Director of Events | Jacqueline Villamer Awal |
| Director of Marketing & Communications | MJ Maria Uy Lami-in |
| Director of Sponsorship Ways & Means | Dante Diamante |
| Treasurer | Loveshane Vasquez |