NGO Trade Fair 2010 @ TriNoma Mall – November 15-18

The NGO Trade Fair 2010, co-organized with the Association of Foundations (AF) and the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF), gave opportunities for several NGOs and people’s organizations from around the country to showcase their various products and services to a wider audience at the Activity Center of the TriNoma Mall. The NGO booths in the fair featured eco-friendly products and accessories produced by community-based enterprises, as well as publications and advocacy campaigns by cause-oriented groups.

The trade fair also served as the venue for the CODE-NGO “Kasali Ako sa Pagbabago!” Photo and Poetry Contest, which invited entries from young amateur photographers and poets 16 to 30 years old from around the country. Of 44 photo entries received, 12 were selected as finalists and exhibited at the trade fair. An on-the-spot poetry-writing contest was also organized on November 16, where each of the 22 participating poets wrote their original verses, getting inspiration from the photo of their choice from among the entries exhibited. The following were adjudged winners for the Photo and Poetry Contest at the culmination program of the NGO Trade Fair last November 18:

1. Photo Contest Winners (see finalists and winning entries here): 

   • First Prize, Jerome Torres, 27 years old, Cagayan de Oro City (entry: “Diversity of Love”)

   • Second Prize, Kevin Tatco, 19 years old, Paranaque City (entry: “Going Down the Hill”)

   • Third Prize, Ronnan Christian Reposar, 30 years old, Palo, Leyte, (entry: “Pangingisda sa Harap ng Pagbabago ng Klima” and Catherine Dinglasan, 19 years old, Sta. Mesa, Manila (entry: “Book of Joy!”)

1. Poetry-Writing Contest Winners:

   • First Prize, Joselyn Nato Marty, 22 years old, (city), “Panata ng Pamamalakaya”

   • Second Prize, Allan Lenard Ocampo, 24 years old, (city), “Para sa Pagbabago, Walang Pagitan ang Relihiyon at Pag-ibig”

   • Third Prize, Christian Tordillas, 25 years old, (city), “Ang Lupang Hinirang at ang Mga Nakibakang Tsinelas.”

The photos and poems depicted the youth’s ideas about what “active citizenship” means – being aware of current social realities and being part of the solutions to our country’s problems. Photography enthusiasts from among NGO colleagues Garrie David, Jun Virola and Yanee Aguirre screened the photo entries, while Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Palanca awardee Maki Lim and Sandino Soliman judged the poems. Renowned artists Cookie Chua, Juris and Bayang Barrios also performed at the opening and closing programs of the NGO Trade Fair.

Report on the Philippine Civil Society Index Study – November 17

CODE-NGO presented the final results of its recently-concluded research on the Civil Society Index (CSI) for the Philippine CSO sector. The CSI design and methodology was developed by the international organization Civicus World Alliance for Citizen Participation, and is meant to capture the multi-dimensional nature of civil society and assess its strengths and weaknesses in a particular context. Consultant Dr. Lily Domingo of the University of the Philippines and research team members Randy Tuano of the Ateneo Economics Department and Patrick Lim presented the summary of findings and key recommendations of the study.

Partnership with DILG on Participatory Local Governance – November 17

DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero presented to civil society groups the agency’s proposed framework for engaging CSOs in local governance. After his presentation, consultations were held among civil society groups present, which came from all regions across the country, except ARMM. The groups discussed the proposed framework and gave specific suggestions for implementing participatory processes at the local levels. The specific recommendations from CSOs were submitted to the DILG after the workshop.

This was followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement for the “From Vigilance to Volunteerism – Project for Intensifying People Empowerment in Local Governance” or V2V PIPELOG between CODE-NGO as represented by Executive Director Sixto Donato Macasaet, the Task Force for Participatory Local Governance (TF-PLG) represented by PHILDHRRA National Coordinator Divinal Luz Lopez, and DILG through USEC Panadero, to seal the DILG-CSO partnership for participatory local governance.

Effective Cooperative-Government Partnerships: Helping Improve People’s Lives – November 17

The National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO) actively participated in this year’s celebration by organizing a forum that featured effective development initiatives being jointly implemented by cooperatives and government agencies last November 17:

1. San Dionisio Credit Coop and Paranaque LGU – organizing of 60 cooperatives and eventual formation of Paranaque Cooperative Development Council (PCDC);

2. Buklod Buhay Savings and Credit Coop (BBSCC), DAR AGRISOL Project and NATCCO MICOOP for the MICOOP Quezon experience – the farming technologies provided by DAR and microfinance management innovations support provided by NATCCO improved the operational systems and capabilities of BBSC;

3. Paco-Soriano-Pandacan Development Coop (PSPDC) and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-DOLE – The DOLE training on the 5S principle (Sort, Systematize, Sweep, Standardize, Self-Discipline) greatly improved the productivity of the PSPDC;

4. St. Martin of Tours Coop, Bulacan and DepED – the Aflatoun Program, a financial literacy program for children and youth, were integrated in the Values Education subject in the co-op’s neighbor schools.

Newly-appointed NAPC Basic Sector Coordinator Leony Martinez also gave a presentation on the NAPC’s strategy under the PNoy administration of ensuring the meaningful participation of the basic sectors in anti-poverty programs, both at the national and the local levels.

Forum on CSO-Government Partnerships for Effective Governance and Reform – November 18

PHILDHRRA shared the interim results of its study on the status of participatory governance in the country. Ateneo Economics Professor Nandy Aldaba followed with an assessment of R.A. 8425 and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), citing the strengths and weaknesses of this mechanism and providing recommendations for NAPC. Recently-appointed NAPC Convenor Joel Rocamora responded by citing the importance of governance in the fight against poverty. He said that NAPC at the moment is preoccupied with the structural cleaning of NAPC as an institution. In cooperation with the DSWD, it will focus on uplifting the conditions of those living in extreme poverty through various programs and initiatives, one of which is the expansion of the Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) Program.

Former Civil Service Commission Chair Karina Constantino-David gave an inspiring talk on the state of politics in the country. She highlighted that aside from engaging elected officials and appointed heads of bureaucratic agencies, it is also crucial to engage the majority of those who compose the government: its employed civil servants. Given the context of a political structure and culture in the country where corruption and opportunistic practices in government thrive, CSOs should be beacons of transparent and accountable governance – in their own practices and in demanding such from government.

In the afternoon, models of participatory local governance practices were presented by:

• Naga City Government and the Naga City People’s Council (NCPC)

• DAWN Foundation for the Gender Responsive and Results-Based Budgeting

• Iloilo CODE’s “Beyond Lip Service: Using Social Contracts to Achieve Participatory and Accountable Governance Among LGUs”

• Balay Mindanaw for the Budget Tracking for Transparent and Accountable Governance (BTTAG)

14th CODE-NGO General Assembly – November 19

The CODE-NGO 14th General Assembly capped the week-long celebration, which gathered 90 delegates from the coalition’s 12 member networks. A major concern among several member networks and base organizations is organizational sustainability. Thus, the assembly spent the morning session discussing resource building options for their respective networks. In the afternoon, the assembly reviewed the accomplishments and financial status of the organization for FY2009-2010, as reported by Chairperson Anna Marie Karaos and Treasurer Felicitas Rixhon (see also CODE-NGO’s Annual Report for FY2009-2010).

The assembly also set the direction of CODE-NGO’s work for another year of campaigning for social development and reform. Among the key resolutions agreed by the body include calling its members to work harder on attaining organizational sustainability, strengthening CSO participation in local and national governance, affirming support for the PEACe Bonds and setting NGO workers’ welfare and labour standards, among others. The Association of Foundations (AF) was again named “Most Active Member Network for FY2009-2010.”