Philipine CSO

Slide 1:The Philippine Civil Society Organizations: Its Participation in the Implementation of ODA Funded Projects and Practices Promoting Accountability

Slide 2:My presentation has two parts. CSOs' participation in implementing ODA funded projects and CSOs' initiatives and practices in promoting accountability.

Slide 3:ODA in the Philippines �Japan remains the largest source of ODA in the Philippines with aid amounting to US$ 372 million in 2002. It is to be noted though, that there has been increasing criticisms of Japanese ODA, as a mechanism to expand trade and investment opportunities for Japanese corporations and a strategy to impose policy conditionalities on recipient countries.

Slide 4:Trade and investments ties between Philippines and Japan - the latter is obviously in the most advantageous and dominant position terms of trade are unequivocally in favor of Japan, with Japan earning trade surplus out of its exports of high value commodities to the Philippines investments highly placed in strategic areas and sectors complementing and enhancing its global competitiveness in the industrial sector.

Slide 5:CSOs' Participation in Implementing ODA Funded Projects In the Philippine, CSOs' initiatives to engage government in ODA implementation took a long process of struggles and sacrifices.

Slide 6: During Marcos era in late 70s to the 80s ODA was not a major issue The issues: human rights, peace and justice, and freedom from dictatorship.

Slide 7: We know that there are other organizations who called themselves alternative groups who fight against the dictatorship. militant leftist groups NDF, CCP Other extremist groups MILF, MNLF.

Slide 8:NGOs were born as alternative groups to fight poverty in the countryside providing basic services to the people in the remote areas where services supposedly the government should deliver were wanting.

Slide 9: The Post EDSA Peoples' Power Revolution Enabling environment Two sides: Government initiatives CSOs initiatives

Slide 10:Changes in Policy environment New constitution in 1987 Structural changes giving recognition to CSOs Conservation of nature Party list representation in Congress Reorganization of National Agricultural and Fishery Council � CSOs representation in the council and different committees (food crops, aquaculture and fishery, etc)? Creation of National Anti Poverty Commission � sectoral representation (farmers, fisherfolks, urban poor, women, youth)?

Slide 11: Social Environment: Partnership and collaboration with international NGOs (with US NGOs) Debt for nature swap US congress appropriated $25 million for endowment for a non-profit foundation as part of its $125 million commitment for Natural Resources Management Program in the Philippines In 1994, WWF turned over to FPE an endowment of PhP 569 million.

Slide 12:Networking and Linkaging among CSOs to engage government for policy reforms Agrarian Reform Now or AR Now � an advocacy group agrarian reform in the country. NGOs for Fisheries Reforms � an advocacy group fishery sector and coastal resource management Campaign against mining � advocacy group to stop large-scale mining Caucus for Development NGOs or CODE NGO � a network of national and regional networks that advocate for good governance and transparency in government

Slide 13:Other network at the regional level in Asia AsiaDHRRA � a network of DHRRA countries in Asia that promotes rural community development. Engages the ASEAN to influence FTA in member countries Asian Farmers Alliance � organized by AsiaDHRRA

Slide 14:CSOs' Emerging Practices for Accountability What is accountability? Right spending and utilization of resources according to what is planned and agreed upon Financial management/ system, program operations, administration, and governance, monitoring and evaluation Doing your mandate as an organization. Following the laws of the land

Slide 15:To whom CSOs are accountable? Externally to Partners Donors Community Government Co-development workers Internally to its: leadership membership staff

Slide 16:Practices Promoting Accountability PhilDHRRA Case - a national network of 64 NGOs - has national board and secretariat - 3 regional boards and secretariats one each for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao - a member of CODE NGO and AsiaDHRRA - serves as Secretariat and project holder for AR NOW and Alliance Against Mining

Slide 17:Promotes accountability to its partners Conforming to standards mandated by law Observing certain standards as prescribed by certifying institution � the Philippine Council for NGO Certification or PCNC Encouraging its member NGOs to undergo PCNC evaluation and get certified

Slide 18:PCNC - a quasi-government body established through the initiative of 6 of the country's largest NGO networks in the country Association of Foundations Bishops Businessmens' Conference for Human Development Caucus of Development NGO or CODE NGO League of Corporate Foundation National Council for Sustainable Development Foundation Philippine Business for Social Progress

Slide 19:PCNC mission and goals To create an environment where NGOs enjoy credibility and confidence of its various partners. To set standards for financial accountability and governance; To provide a mechanism of certification for NGOs that meet established minimum criteria for greater transparency and accountability; To build confidence with the donor community in the accountability and governance of NGOs; and To make the NGO certification known, understood, and accepted by the non-profit community.

Slide 20:PhilDHRRA Network Monitoring Tool Members regularly comply to update the network on their: On-going programs/ project Community and sectors serve Contribution to poverty alleviation in the community the operate Number of farmers provided with capital Number of women trained for livelihood etc.

Slide 21:CODE NGO Initiative in promoting good governance and accountability PDAF Watch Priority Development Assistance Fund � a government fund use to provide infrastructure projects in the countryside It is a fund allocated to each of the congressmen/women Local government units in the country side submit proposal for approval by concerned congressman/woman Most controversial public fund because of corruption

Slide 22:PDAF Watch Purpose To monitor the performance of PDAF funded projects Proper utilization of funds? Proper bidding observed? Covered project for monitoring were those that were implemented five years ago Projects implemented according to plan?

Slide 23: The issue of exacting accountability should not only be confined to government and CSOs but it should be equally a concern by all of us as well. After all, we are accountable for what we do and for not doing what we should do.

Slide 24:Maraming Salamat Po Sa Inyong Lahat www.phildhrra.org