CODE-NGO 15th General Assembly and Launch of 20th Year Celebration

Leaders from CODE-NGO’s 12 member networks convened for its 15th General Assembly and to launch the year-long celebration of the network’s 20th Year last November 30, 2011. Key resource persons provided insights for the assembly to reflect on concerning the global and national situation and their impact on CSOs’ work, especially as the network prepares for its Strategic Assessment and Planning process this year. 

		United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippines Country Director Renaud Meyer discussed the opportunities and challenges for CSOs from a global perspective. He cited the issues of global financial crisis, climate change and the cross-sectoral nature of these challenges as the backdrop for CSOs’ development work today and their implications on NGO legitimacy, constructive engagement with government (versus pure criticism), thematic expertise and funding for development work.
Ateneo de Manila University Political Science Professor Dr. Benjamin Tolosa, on the other hand, stressed the need to continue the organizing work, advocacy for transparency, accountability and reform in the public sector and engagement for political reforms. Makati Business Club Executive Director Peter Perfecto highlighted the opportunities for CSOs to partner with the corporate sector and the need for CSOs to also demonstrate accountability in their operations.

Right after, CODE-NGO launched the year-long celebration of its 20th year. Benedict Balderrama of PHILSSA and CODE-NGO’s 5th Congress Planning Committee invited the member networks to enroll their planned activities for the year as part of the celebration, to contribute to the 20th Year publication by submitting their stories and best practices on good governance, and to actively participate in the network’s strategic planning process. The celebration will culminate in the CODE-NGO 5TH National Congress in November 2012.

As sponsored by the member networks, the following are some of the key resolutions of the 15th General Assembly: Strengthen the capacity of the network and its members on participatory local governance; Support the clamor of the people by calling the government to end the culture of corruption and impunity through, among others, pursuing the prosecution of the cases against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo;   Strengthen the involvement of the youth and children and incorporate a family-centered community development approach in the poverty reduction activities and programs of the networks and their members; Reiterate the call for the swift prosecution of and impartial decision on the Maguindanao massacre case to finally give justice for the victims; Emphasize the importance of the immediate approval of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill.

CODE-NGO also named its awardees for the Most Active Member Network for the year, based on the members’ active participation in the coalition’s membership and advocacy programs, as well as their diligence in financial reporting on the projects they had with the network. The Association of Foundations (AF) was named Hall of Fame Awardee for having received the award for the last three (3) consecutive years. For FY2010-2011, the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO) and the Coalition for Bicol Development (CBD) tied for the Most Active Network Award. The Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resource in Rural Areas (PHILDHRRA) was named First Runner-Up.