Diosdado Luna gave the synthesis to all the e-talk sessions.

This year’s Social Development Week marks the 2^nd time for the CODE-NGO Network to conduct its General Assembly and series of public forums in an online modality. Yet despite the limitation of not being able to meet physically, we are here today as we aim to know more on how we may respond to the challenges we face towards effective social change.

Before today’s Call to Action there were 3 e-Talk sessions organized by 3 members of CODE-NGO: The Partnership for Philippine Support Service Agencies or PHILSSA, the Central Visayas Network of NGOs or CENVISNET, and the Philippine Business for Social Progress or PBSP. 

PHILSSA presented its members and partners initiatives under the theme – “Protecting Civic Space and Localizing Leadership in the Time of the Pandemic.” PHILSSA and its partners conducted two separate surveys that reached out to CSOs and the communities they serve to ask about the impact of the pandemic on their lives. The Covid Pulse PH survey is a collaboration among the members of Zero Extreme Poverty PH 2030, including PHILSSA, CODE-NGO, CENVISNET and its partner development agency UNDP. The survey reached out to low-income households using a chat bot to gather data. The first 2 phases happened in 2020 and the 3^rd phase concluded in March 2021. PHILSSA and CODE-NGO also conducted a survey using Google Forms on the impact of Covid to CSOs, asking fellow CSOs how they cope with the challenges brought about by the pandemic. The results of the Covid Pulse PH may be a basis for local engagement with the LGU or private sectors in the covered area. Both this and the survey by PHILSSA may inform ways to respond to the needs of CSOs and the communities through proper information dissemination, setting up response mechanisms and building partnerships.

PHILSSA also invited their member NGOs and partner people’s organizations from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to share their experience in facing the challenges in the time of the pandemic. The CSOs come from the contexts of micro-financing, urban development, community organizing and peace building, and have faced enormous challenges in 2020. The important lessons they have learned were about the importance of mental health, reaching out to their members, and converging efforts of the community to address immediate needs.

CENVISNET focused on Information and Empowerment of Citizens for Action and Wellness (or InfoAct), highlighting the experience of the youth groups and communities in Bohol and Cebu provinces. The forum showcased the Laum Bohol youth development program. Laum is the Bisaya word for “hope”. The program is coordinated by the Provincial Youth Development Office of Bohol and tapped youth leaders in implementing its activities that raise awareness on mental health and provide services on mental health. Likewise, the University of Bohol through its extension program offers services and activities on mental health such as psycho-social support and counseling not only to its students but also to the communities inside and outside of Bohol, such as the Maranaos in Bohol and in Marawi. The Fellowship of Organizing Endeavors or FORGE in Cebu shared how they reached out to their organized communities to address their needs through distribution of hygiene kits, childrens’ art sessions, and “kapihan sessions” streamed online. Again, the efforts of the community and building partnership is highlighted as a key factor in responding to the crisis we face. 

Finally, PBSP highlighted the work they have done through the collective effort of donors and community leaders to address health, unemployment and hunger among other challenges we all face. Aside from the overall highlights of PBSP’s accomplishments in 2020, presentations from 2 programs of PBSP were made by their program leads – the Advancing Client-centered Care and Sustainable Services for Tuberculosis (ACCESS TB Project) and the Accenture Near-Hire Training (NHT) and Employment Facilitation Program. Both programs have been long-standing initiatives of PBSP and has expanded its reach to address the situation of Covid-19 health concerns and quarantines. One touching presentation came from the President of Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilyang Pantawid, the association of 4Ps members and parent-leaders who are one of the beneficiaries of PBSP and its donors. She shared how they as a community organized themselves to properly distribute donations of food and care packs so that each will have their share. The sharing of lessons as related by PBSP’s President draws inspiration from seeing the community work together – utilizing the “strength and power of the community” to face uncertainty.