CSOs rally behind a more peaceful and resilient PH in Social Development Celebration 2014

Nearly 200 civil society organization (CSO) leaders are expected to convene this coming December 3-5, 2014 at the annual Kasali Ka, Sumali Ka! Social Development Celebration (SDC) of the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) to be held at the SMX Convention Centre, SM Lanang, Davao City.

Co-hosted by the Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE), this year’s SDC will also serve as the 18th General Assembly of the CODE-NGO’s 12 member networks (MNs) which represent more than 2,000 development NGOs, people’s organizations, and cooperatives all over the Philippines.

In line with the upcoming theme of the celebration, “From South to North and from Bottom Up: CSOs Shaping Peace and Resilience”, the SDC will focus on the role of CSOs in promoting peace in Mindanao and disaster-preparedness around the country.  This year’s theme illustrates that CODE-NGO’s work as a national coalition of CSOs are grounded on and arising from the initiatives and lessons of its members at the local levels.  Its focus on the twin issues of peace and resilience are timely, now that the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) has been signed and the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is being deliberated upon in Congress, and it has been a year after typhoon Yolanda, when lessons should have informed and should be informing Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) efforts of various stakeholders. 

At the SDC2014, CODE-NGO aims to rally its coalition members and partner organizations behind its “Davao Declaration on Peace and Resilience,” to signify the coalition and its members’ commitment to:

• Campaign for the immediate passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that is faithful to the Comprehensive Agreement for the Bangsamoro (CAB);
• Support the success of the Bangsamoro after its creation, and monitor the faithful implementation of the development plans for sustained peace and growth in the area;
• Mainstream DRR-CCA initiatives in CSOs’ programs and in their advocacies and engagement with local and national governments; and
• Lead the creation of Regional DRRM Coordination Hubs among its member networks, which will support inter-network learning exchanges on and advocacy for responsive DRR-CCA during ‘peace’ times, and effective CSO coordination of humanitarian emergency initiatives in times of disasters.

The 3-day SDC2014 event opens in the evening of December 3 with a “Welcome Dinner and Mindanao Night” to feature the colorful dance and musical traditions of Mindanao.

The succeeding forums demonstrate how CSOs shape peace and resilience, as expressed in this year’s event theme.  At the plenary session on December 4, Bangsamoro Transition Committee (BTC) Chair Mohagher Iqbal will tackle the historical development of the peace process in Mindanao, their vision for the Bangsamoro and its importance in paving a road to peace for Mindanao and the nation.  Dr. Gemma Narisma of the Manila Observatory, on the other hand, will discuss the role of CSOs in helping build disaster-resilient communities and the importance of linking with the scientific community on this effort.  This will be followed by a press conference with the resource persons, CODE-NGO and MINCODE representatives and local media partners in Davao City.

After the plenary discussions, there will be six simultaneous learning sessions organized by CODE-NGO member networks and partners, as follows:  

• Peace within Reach: Dialogue on the Bangsamoro Basic Law, by the CODE-NGO Decentralized Governance Project
• Community-based Peace-Building by Balay Mindanaw Foundation
• Shari’a Compliant Social Enterprise for Peace Building by the Al Qalam Institute and the Peace & Equity Foundation
• Lessons from Yolanda: Creating the Regional DRRM Coordination Hubs by the CODE-NGO Advancing CSO Engagement in DRRM-CCA (ACED) Project
• Angat Calamianes: A Multi-stakeholder Partnership Model for Yolanda Rehabilitation and Resilience, by PHILSSA, and
• Volunteering for Humanitarian Emergencies, by CODE-NGO and VOICE Network-Mindanao.

The CODE-NGO 18th General Assembly is scheduled on the third day, December 5. “CSO Conversations” or informal discussions on current development issues will open the day. Among the topics to be discussed include:

• the recent taxation regulations imposed on NGOs
• the role of the CSOs in the ASEAN integration by 2015
• the People’s Fund Bill, a bill seeking to establish a mechanism to allow taxpayers to allocate 5% of their annual income tax to charitable organizations or NGOs of their choice
• the Post-2015 Development Agenda or the successor agenda to the Millennium Development Goals
• the Empowerment Ordinance or efforts of CSOs to set up local people’s councils, and
• Communicating development programs, or how CSOs can more effectively share about the value of their work and contributions in social development to mainstream and social media. 

As a preparation to SDC, a series of forums and dialogues in line with the celebration’s theme are also being conducted in key areas in the country including Metro Manila, Baguio City, Naga City, Zamboanga City, and Cotabato City.

For more information about the details of the program and participation in the event, contact the CODE-NGO Secretariat at tels. +632 9202595, 4356616 or 9268131 or e-mail sdw@code-ngo.org.