With the theme “Magpakahusay: Strengthening Civil Society to Level Up Democracy”, CODE-NGO will be holding its annual Social Development Week and 7th Congress on October 24-28, 2022 via Zoom and Facebook Live.
Further weakening of Philippine democracy, a bloody drug war, the proliferation of mis/disinformation, and threatened sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea characterized the national life these past years. Following the results of the May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections, dubbed as “most polarizing and puzzling one in the nation’s political history”, Philippine civil society organizations can expect the current administration to replay a populist authoritarian playbook that proved popular to the majority. While the administration’s victory may be welcomed by many, democratic forces see an otherwise perilous state of the nation hounded with threats to basic freedoms of Filipinos.
How will civil society live through the next five or 18 years when its civic spaces have shrunk? How can it protect democratic principles and norms which have already been sacrificed?
In seeking answers to the questions above, the Caucus of Development NGO Networks or CODE-NGO, the largest coalition of NGOs, people’s organizations, and cooperatives in the Philippines working on social development, undertook several processes. It amended its Covenant on Philippine Development, updated its Development and Reform Agenda, elaborated its Democracy Agenda, and crafted its Strategic Plan for 2023-2027. This October, CODE-NGO organizes the Social Development Week 2022 and the 7th Congress for CODE-NGO members and other CSOs to discuss critical issues, to view the present and future from different perspectives, and to agree on courses of action for rebuilding its collective strength.
Join us and register today!
OCTOBER 24, 2022
Opening Plenary Session – The Aftermath: Philippine Democracy After the National and Local Elections
Register here: https://bit.ly/AftermathPH
Objectives:
Present the situation of Philippine Democracy in the aftermath of the May 2022 NLE, validate outputs of recent studies on Filipino’s voting behavior, and discuss possible ways forward to strengthen democratic practices such as elections.
Resource Persons:
• Manuel Quezon III – The Emergence of Two Nations: Discussion on history of “Pangulo” ideology and the Philippine Democracy situation
• Dr. Homer Yabut, La Salle Institute of Governance (tbc) – Psychographic Study on the Youth Vote
Moderator:
- Christian Esguerra, PARTICIPATE
OCTOBER 25, 2022
e-Talk Session 1: Community Re-organizing
Register here: https://bit.ly/CommunityReorganizing
Objectives:
Trace how community organizing (CO) in the Philippines has evolved over several decades, discuss emerging challenges for NGOs in doing community organizing work, and identify strategies for enhancing CO work in light of emerging challenges and different contexts.
Resource Persons:
• Prof. Froilan A. Alipao, UST-SIMBAHAYAN Community Development Office
• Dr. Jing Karaos – John J. Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues
• Bimbo Fernandez
• Dr. Benjy Bagadion, Jr. – Foundation for the Philippine Environment
e-Talk Session 2: BantAI: Banta ng AI (Artificial Intelligence) Surveillance sa Demokrasya
Register here: https://bit.ly/BantAI
Objectives
Understand the basics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) surveillance, understand the implications of AI Surveillance to security, human rights, and democracy, know what CSOs can do with AI Surveillance vis-a-vis democracy
Resource Person:
•JM Sarmiento, Computer Professionals Union
Moderator:
•Catherine Ruiz, Kaabag sa Sugbo
OCTOBER 26, 2022
e-Talk Session 3: The Journey for Peace Continues: The Bangsamoro in Transition
Register here: https://bit.ly/OnTheBangsamoro
Objectives:
Discuss the issues and concerns about the work for peace and sustainable development in the Bangsamoro – why the need for a 3-yr extension of the BTA, the composition of the new BTA and its roles and goals for ensuring enduring peace in the Bangsamoro, discuss the significant role of civil society in this work for peace.
Moderator:
Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE)
e-Talk Session 4: Noon at Ngayon: An Intergenerational Conversation on Civic and Political Participation
Register here: https://bit.ly/Noonatngayon
Objectives:
Share views, experiences and ideas of young people and the preceding generation on various aspects of civic work and political participation, inform young people of avenues for civic participation in the work of democracy, and develop a deeper appreciation of civic participation in democratic spaces among the youth.
Resource Persons:
• Mardi Mapa-Sulido, INCITEGov
• Marie Sol Gonzalvo, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
• Julian Manongdo, Millennials PH
• Bryan Ezra C. Gonzales, National Society of Parliamentarians
Moderator:
• Lenbi Laborte
OCTOBER 27, 2022
Closing Plenary Session – Pagpapakahusay para sa Demokrasya
Register here: https://bit.ly/Pagpapakahusay
Objectives:
Present a snapshot of Philippine CSO sustainability, discuss multi-disciplinal perspectives on CSOs, siloes and echo chambers, misinformation and disinformation.
Resource Persons:
• Atty. Ace Durano, Ramon Nito Durano Family Foundation, Inc.
• Dr. Cheryll Soriano, Dept. of Communication, De La Salle University
• Rejene Lakibul, University of San Carlos
OCTOBER 28, 2022
7th Congress
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/CODE-7thCongress
Objectives:
Provide an avenue to discuss critical issues related to the Philippine democracy and those that may affect them and the broader CSO sector in the next 5 years, and agree on courses of action to take.
Keynote Speaker
•Senator Risa Hontiveros
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