CODE-NGO: CSOs Shaping Peace & Resilience
Isabelita Solamo – Antonio
Civil society organizations (CSOs) and NGOs are the third way between the state and the market in the big world of the development industry. Yes, there are real NGOs in our country just as there are good people in our country. These non profit CSOs which focus on social development serve the disadvantaged and the poor among us.
Almost a quarter of a century ago, in May 1990, ten of the largest NGO networks of the country formed the Caucus of Development NGO networks (CODE-NGO) representing more than 2,000 development NGOs, people’s organizations and cooperatives nationwide. CODE-NGO, which is currently chaired by our own Patricia Sarenas, has been providing leadership in civil society in influencing public policy & partnership building in the public arena. It has been developing the capacity and accountability of its member networks, and affiliated organizations. To be sure, none of the fake NGOs are members of this list, which is probably one of the reasons why it was always easy to spot and isolate the fake ones for exposure, as they were never vetted by CODE-NGO’s system of good housekeeping. One of these internal audit and control systems is through the Philippine Council for NGO certification (PCNC).
I was a member of the Board of Directors of CODE-NGO when the innovative PEACe Bonds were developed and which has now resulted in the sustainability of supporting civil society work in eradicating poverty and marginalization through the setting up of the Peace & Equity Foundation, a funding mechanism which “promotes social enterprises to help rural households have sustainable incomes and rural communities have productive assets, basic services, and resiliency against climate change.”
When I am asked what the major achievements of CODE-NGO are, right off I would say that, aside from serving its two thousand strong membership through its twelve member networks and the public arena, I would include the various institutions it has established over the years and which have remained sustainable. Aside from the Peace & Equity Foundation, another example would be institutions such as the Foundation for a Sustainable Society (FSSI) that the women and men leaders of CODE-NGO helped set up in 1995 by brokering a debt for development contract between the Goverment of the Philippines & the Swiss Confederation. Another example would be NGO leaders, working in the leadership of CODE-NGO, who were part of a project team that lobbied with the US government & US NGOs for an endowment fund which resulted in the establishment of the Foundation for Philippine Environment (FPE).
We are happy to announce that the Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE), the network where I serve as one of its Directors, is co-hosting in Davao City on Dec. 3-5, 2014, the annual Social Development Celebration of CODE-NGO & 18th General Assembly of the now 12 member network CODE-NGO which represent more than 2,000 development NGOs, people’s organizations, and cooperatives all over the Philippines. This national event in Davao City will gather about 200 civil society organization (CSO) leaders to share, reflect and make plans towards the forward shape of peace and resilience of the Philippines. We are particularly happy that, once again, this national gathering of CSO leaders is being held outside of the country’s capital city.
To enhance members’ contribution and commitment to the peace process, CODE-NGO has invited Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita “Ging” Deles to set the tone of our celebration as the keynote speaker. Chairman Mohagher Iqbal, Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) will speak on the Bangsamoro: Road to Peace for Mindanao and the Nation. For further understanding of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, and the role of CSOs, Dr. Gemma T. Narisma, PhD, of the Manila Observatory will join us in the plenary session.
CSOs all over the country look forward to these annual assemblies of CODE-NGO because these are the venues where we also take up emerging development issues. For this 2014 meet, we will be discussing the political economy of the forthcoming ASEAN integration, the People’s Fund Bill, recent NGO regulations on taxation, the Post 2015 agenda setting, people empowerment and local governance and communicating development in this age of the wired world. CSOs will also be discussing the Citizen’s Monitoring of the performance of local government units and the grassroots participatory budgeting. This 2014 gathering of CSOs will culminate in the “Davao Declaration on Peace & Resilience” which will outline ways to go after the event. Our tribute to tourism and ecology will be showing the beauty and touristic parts of Davao and its crafts, shops, highlands and beaches.
Published on the Mindanao Times on December 3, 2014.
Other articles published on the Social Development Celebration 2014:
SDC2014 Ad: Published on the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Dec 1, 2014, page 6
NGO coalition to mobilize networks for disaster response
Jesse Pizarro Bogaon, Minda News, December 4 2014
http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2014/12/04/ngo-coalition-to-mobilize-networks-for-disaster-response/
Iqbal on federalism: ‘MILF will neither endorse nor reject it’
Keith Bacongcoon, Minda News, December 4 2014
http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2014/12/04/iqbal-on-federalism-milf-will-neither-endorse-nor-reject-it/
Expert cites need to address vulnerability to typhoons
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2014/12/03/code-ngo-discuss-peace-disaster-preparedness-380045
Genuine NGOs hit by impact of PDAF scam
Philippine Information Agency, December 3 2014
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1541417590212/genuine-ngos-hit-by-impact-of-pdaf-scam
Mindanao Times, December 9 2014
http://mindanaotimes.net/genuine-ngos-hit-by-impact-of-pdaf-scam/
You must be logged in to post a comment.