Pardo takes over Alvarez post as PBA chairman

MANILA, Philippines - Rene Pardo of B-MEG Derby Ace has assumed the chairmanship of the PBA Board of Governors, taking over from Air21’s Lito Alvarez who had to relinquish the position following his appointment as new chief of the Bureau of Customs.

Pardo, the erstwhile vice chairman, was supposedly to sit as PBA board chairman only after the current PBA season.

Pardo and the rest of the PBA family, nonetheless, welcomed Alvarez’s appointment in one of the most sensitive positions in the national government.

“He is highly qualified and will be an asset to the BoC because Lito is a good manager and he has proven that with the Air21 team,” Pardo said.

“I am pleased and proud to hear the news,” said PBA commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios. “My exposure to him and his work ethic in the PBA gives me confidence that he has the necessary tools to do well in his job. He can significantly contribute to nation building.”

Alvarez is the second PBA board member given the BoC portfolio, the first being Air21 owner Bert Lina during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Johan Ramos took over from Alvarez as Air21 representative to the PBA board which had a meeting yesterday presided over by Pardo.

The PBA, which will have a new commissioner in Atty. Chito Salud by next season, is looking at reverting back to a three-conference format.

Alvarez, 52, was sworn in by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima at the Department of Finance office yesterday morning.

The former Sycip, Gorres, Velayo & Co. senior auditor will assume official functions after the formal turnover rites at 11 a.m. today at the Bureau of Customs, with Purisima and outgoing Customs commissioner Napoleon Morales present.

Alvarez, who has six children (four boys and two girls), was with his wife Maria Vilma at the swearing-in ceremony. He will take his oath of office with Pres. Aquino at 2 p.m. tomorrow in Malacañang.

His first marching orders, Alvarez said, are to “meet revenue goals, work in close coordination with the Bureau of Internal Revenue to prevent tax leakages, and identify smugglers.”

A Far Eastern U graduate and a Certified Public Accountant by profession, Alvarez worked for five years with SGV&Co. before moving to Sunnyvale-based Advanced Micro Devices as an accounting manager, and finally settling for the last 20 years with the Lina Group of Companies as, until recently, president of Air21, the sole licensee of FedEx in the Philippines.

“I have as an advantage having worked with Mr. Lina, Secretary Purisima, and former BIR commissioner Willie Parayno,” said Alvarez, a part owner of Burger King. “I have been properly trained by two former BoC commissioners and educated early on Customs matters.”

Outside his early orders from Purisima, the new BoC said he is looking to improve the image of his office.

“It needs transformation and we have to address the issue of its image,” Alvarez said. “I also hope to create a productive working environment, better salaries and benefits, in order to be able to render quality service and boost government collection.”