Filipina named to UN post

A Filipina has been appointed to the second highest post in the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).

Jessie Rose Mabutas has been named assistant executive director for administration of the Program, WFP executive director Catherine Bertini announced yesterday

Mabutas will serve in this position for a term running from May 1, 2001 to Dec. 31, 2002.

Mabutas, the first woman assistant executive director of WFP, will have a wide range of responsibilities, including the overall management of four key divisions: finance, information systems and technology, management services and human resources. Mabutas will also play an important advisory role to Bertini on the policy and strategy for these divisions.

"I am very pleased to have a woman with such sterling credentials helping steer WFP," said Bertini. "Jessie brings a solid expertise and wealth of experience to this new post in the Program and I look forward to working with her."

Mabutas, who is from Luzon, is a certified public accountant. She graduated with a degree in Accounting from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila in 1974. She holds a Master’s Degree in Government Management from the University of Manila, and a Master’s Degree and a PhD in Public Administration from the University of South California.

Mabutas, who joined WFP in August 1994, is currently director of finance and information systems division at the UN food aid agency. She has held this position since November 1999. Previously, she served as WFP’s director of internal audit.

Before joining WFP, Mabutas worked as director of the International Audit Division at the Philippine Commission on Audit in New York. She was also director of External Audit, UN Board of Auditors.

WFP is the United Nations’ front-line agency in the fight against global hunger. In 2000, WFP helped 83 million people in 83 countries including most of the world’s refugees and internally displaced people.