Karina Constantino-David

Karina Constantino-David "was appointed on February 23, 2001 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as chair of the Civil Service Commission after the conclusion of the term of Corazon Alma G. de Leon.

"David began her career in government service in 1966 as a Teaching Assistant at the University of the Philippines-Diliman Department of Sociology where she became an Assistant Professor from 1970 to 1975. In 1986, she was appointed undersecretary in the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

"From 1975, David has been a Professor of Community Development at the UP College of Social Work and Community Development.

"Before her appointment to the CSC, David chaired the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) from 1998-1999. As the housing czarina, David was responsible for setting housing and urban development goals and strategies, monitoring targets, and broadening private sector participation. She was likewise immersed in proposing legislation and setting policies for asset disposition apart from heading the boards of all shelter agencies.

"From 1997 to 1998, David was the president of Eco-Shelter, Inc., a private company involved in shelter construction and development of alternative housing materials. She was also the executive director of HASIK or Harnessing Self-Reliant Initiatives and Knowledge from 1988-1998. HASIK is a non-government organization whose activities are focused on empowering the urban poor, gender development, protection of children and adolescents, and housing and livelihood projects. From 1999 until her appointment to the CSC, David was president of Property Solutions, Inc., a private company that offers innovative and alternative interventions to various property issues.

"David's interest and participation in numerous professional, civic and cultural organizations manifest her inclination to women's concern, gender and development. David held prime posts at the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (president, 1989-1998); Women's Action Network for Development (vice chairperson, 1990-1998); Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies (chairperson, 1989-1995); Independent Commission on Population and the Quality of Life (commissioner, 1992-1996); and People's Forum for Habitat II (national convenor, 1995-1996).

"David also served as consultant to poverty and women's program policy planning of the Asian and Pacific Development Centre. In 1989, she was a consultant for the women's mission of GTZ or Deutsche Gessellscahft Fur Technische Zusammenarbeit and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

"From 1988-1989, David was the over-all consultant of the Philippine Development Plan for Women at the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW). David has again rendered consultancy services at the NCRFW from 1995-96 for the Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development. Presently, she is an active member of the Philippine Sociological Society, Human Development Network, and Asia-Pacific Development Journal.

"She is not only a civil servant, an academician, a career woman-but a performing artist as well. From 1981 to the present, David was the composer-guitarist of Inang Laya, a female duo that performs and records progressive and feminist songs. Inang Laya has cut a number of albums in the local entertainment industry.

"David finished Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at the University of the Philippines in 1966. She earned a masters in sociology (orals lacking) also from UP in 1968 and a masters in economic and social studies from The Victoria University of Manchester, England in 1974. Blessed with four children, she is married to broadcaster-academician Randolf "Randy" S. David." Randolf S. David.


 * Director, International Institute of Public Ethics