CODECares has been our unwavering mantra throughout these trying times. CODE-NGO responded quickly to member networks’ needs and concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic and community quarantines when the health emergency struck. The Board of Directors approved the release of support to member networks (MNs) amounting to P1.45M for core operations, sustainability interventions, COVID-19 response initiatives, operational expenses, Zoom annual subscription, internet subsidy, and communication allowance for their staff and members. Among the supported MNs’ activities were the development of an online children’s protection platform (Unlad Bata) for the dissemination of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials on child protection in times of crisis; monitoring of MNs’ good governance measures under the new normal; and assistance in developing strategic directives.

The CODE-NGO’s calamity fund provided immediate relief assistance to affected staff of MNs and their member-based organizations. Thirty-two individual staff from the eight MNs and their member-based organizations (MBOs) received a total of Php199,000 to supplement their salaries or support their families during the lockdown.

The Membership program also redesigned its work under the guidance of the Commission on Institutional and Capacity Building (CICB) and the Commission on Internal Reform Initiatives (CIRI) to meet the demands of the new normal. The CICB updated its plan to strengthen MNs’ capacities. Key staff from MNs and MBOs actively participated in two capacity-building activities on online facilitation and digital safety. These learning interventions led to MNs adopting ways of working remotely while remaining safe and effective.

CIRI members and the CODE-NGO secretariat collaborated to ensure MNs’ compliance with the government’s reportorial requirements amidst constraints posed by the pandemic. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the MNs were able to submit their 2019 Audited Financial Statements and General Information Sheet to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and/or the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). Almost all (91%) MNs submitted their Mandatory Disclosure Forms to the SEC. Half of the MNs conducted their General Assemblies, while three-fourths developed and installed their membership monitoring systems. From that 75%, 22% have updated their said system for 2020, while 33% have updated their MMS for 2019.

Despite the pandemic, CODE-NGO continues to work for and support the long-term viability of its member networks.