D&L director Cora dela Paz-Bernardo named first female ICD honorary member

The Institute of Corporate Directors or ICD has named Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo, an independent director at listed oleochemical producer D&L Industries, Inc., as its first female honorary member, the highest conferment the group awards.

The ICD recognized her notable contributions in the field of auditing, accounting and consulting through her pivotal roles and her visionary and purposeful leadership in various professional and business organizations in the country.

The ICD is a non-stock, not-for-profit national association of corporate directors and other stakeholders engaged in corporate governance. Its mission is to champion good corporate governance and stewardship for the benefit of society.

By 2028, the ICD envisions itself to be at the forefront of the ASEAN region by being the key catalyst in the Philippine corporate governance ecosystem for inclusive and sustainable development.

De la Paz-Bernardo has been an independent director of D&L Industries since 2017. She currently serves as chairperson of the Audit Committee and a member of the Corporate Governance and Risk Oversight Committees.

She now joins the distinguished roster of ICD's Honorary Fellows including BSP former Governor, Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr.; Dr. Cesar G. Saldaña; BSP former Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr.; Antonino T. Aquino; Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala; and Dr. Justo A. Ortiz.

"We would like to congratulate Cora for this exemplary recognition. We are honored to have on board one of the pillars of corporate governance in the country. Cora's wealth of knowledge and experience continues to bring huge value to the board in stirring D&L's strategic direction," D&L chairman Edwin Lao said.

Aside from D&L Industries, De la Paz-Bernardo is currently an independent director of several Philippine companies including Del Monte Philippines, Inc., University of the East, UE Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Republic Glass Holdings Corporation, Roxas & Company, Inc. and Phinma Education Holdings Inc.

She is also a trustee of several organizations including MFI Polytechnic Institute, Inc., Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation, Inc., Jaime V. Ongpin Microfinance Foundation and Philippine Business for Education. She currently serves as an adviser to the board and audit committee of BDO Unibank, Inc., and an adviser to the audit committee of PLDT, Inc.

De la Paz-Bernardo, a Certified Public Accountant, formerly served as the Chairman and Senior Partner at Joaquin Cunanan & Company from 1981 to 2001.

She headed the Social Security System of the Philippines from 2001 to 2008 as President and CEO and was also the first non-European president of the International Social Security Association from 2004 to 2010.

Additionally, she was also a former president of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants and was the first woman president of the Management Association of the Philippines, the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines and the Philippine Fulbright Scholars Association.