Indeed, this year tested the resilience and innovation of CODE-NGO. Despite the challenges faced, its member networks continue to strive towards their advocacies. This year, 3 member networks presented their resolutions which the assembly unanimously adopted. They are as follows.

Development NGOs seek prioritization in vaccination program

Non-government organizations (NGOs) who work in the frontlines since the enhanced community quarantine in 2020 urges the national government to include NGOs in the “A4 priority list” of the national immunization program. This action was presented by the Central Visayas Network of NGOs and POs (CENVISNET). Given that the national government is carrying out national immunization program based on the priority sectors and subgroups identified by health experts as to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 to the public health, the NGOs agree that their social workers, community organizers and responders should be identified as frontline personnel in essential sectors as providers of humanitarian assistance and social services for development amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The many different foundations and humanitarian organizations providing relief goods, seminars on health and proper hygiene, and the mental health practitioners who provide “care for the carers” have been working non-stop since 2020. They enter the quarantine areas or go out to far flung areas to provide hygiene kits, PPEs and services related to responding to the pandemic. With this there is a demand and willingness within the NGO sector to be vaccinated in the most timely and efficient manner.

CSOs resolve to undertake campaign for education and advocacy on the West Philippine Sea

The General Assembly also resolves to undertake an education and advocacy campaign about the territorial sovereignty of the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea, including deepening the discussions about the historical events that has led to the Philippines elevating its claims to the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at the Hague and how the PCA ruled in favor of the Philippines and ruled that China has no historical rights based on the “nine-dash line” map. In the resolution sponsored by the Eastern Visayas Network of NGOs and POs (EVNET) and the Mindanao Coalition of Development NGOs (MINCODE), the network and its members affirm its commitment to a peaceful and rules-based resolution of disputes in the West Philippine Sea in accordance with international law, specifically UN Convention on the Laws of the Seas. and supporting the advocacy work for upholding the ruling of the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration giving the Philippines the right over the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea. Further, the current administration led by no less than President Duterte himself asserts that this ruling is unenforceable and any move to insist upon the enjoyment of our rights over the West Philippine Sea would result in a war with China. The network adopts the resolution and calls on the network to continue to educate Filipino citizens, especially young people, about the historical, cultural, environmental, geographic, socio-political, and economic significance of the West Philippine Sea as part of the Filipino’s homeland.

CODE-NGO Members to support local convergences of the ZEP2030 PH Movement

CODE-NGO unanimously and enthusiastically supports the Zero Extreme Poverty PH 2030 (ZEP2030) Movement’s strategy for local convergences. Presented by the Partnership for Philippine Support Service Agencies (PHILSSA), the resolution urges the network to support and participate in the local convergence initiatives in the pilot areas of the ZEP2030 Movement, especially in the context of COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery. The network underlines in its resolution that CODE-NGO itself as a network and many of its member-networks and some of its member-based organizations are convenors of ZEP2030 and supports its goals. The ZEP2030 now spearheads a local convergence approach and strategy beginning 2019 among its member organizations and partners in delivering needed programs and projects. In line with this approach, ZEP2030 is offering tools and technologies for community profiling, visioning and planning, as well as stakeholder engagement and cooperation. The approach involves member networks and member base organizations, and it has been initiated in Quezon City, Sorsogon, Cebu, Bohol, Bukidnon, Davao, Eastern Samar, Sarangani, and in General Santos City, among other areas. The CODE-NGO network fully supports the local convergences efforts of ZEP2030 and aims to facilitate expanding the areas of ZEP2030 as well in the coming years leading to 2030.

The ZEP2030 is a movement formed in 2015 where a partnership of foundations and non-government organizations convened and aimed to uplift 1 million Filipino families from extreme poverty to self-sufficiency by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.