THE National Development Co. (NDC) said its Manila Golf and Country Club (MGCC) membership is a state asset used by the Secretary of Trade and Industry to facilitate official functions.
The company’s membership “facilitates the performance of official functions and may provide a venue for meetings and engagements with business leaders, investors, and other stakeholders in furtherance of NDC’s mandate and institutional objectives,” it said in a social media post on Wednesday.
The NDC noted that it has held a share in MGCC since 1994, registered under the NDC’s corporate name.
This came after an internal club notice listed Trade Secretary Maria Cristina A. Roque as NDC’s corporate nominee to use corporate access.
According to reports, some MGCC members objected to Ms. Roque’s attempt to secure club access through NDC’s corporate membership.
The NDC chairman — who is also the secretary of Trade and Industry — serves as the designated nominee for the membership, similar to past secretaries.
The NDC said its share in the MGCC and corresponding membership remain corporate property regardless of the identity of its designated nominee.
“Their management and use are subject to appropriate authorization, documentation, and accountability in accordance with applicable government rules and NDC policies, including relevant Commission on Audit (CoA) requirements,” it added.
The NDC serves as the investment arm of the Department of Trade and Industry. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz