The Philippine Civil Society Organizations: Its The Philippine Civil Society Organizations: Its Participation in the Implementation of ODA Participation in the Implementation of ODA

Funded Projects and Practices Promoting Funded Projects and Practices Promoting AccountabilityAccountability

Prepared for the Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Regional Workshop on CSOs and Aid Effectiveness

Hanoi, Vietnam October 9-12, 2007

Macario T. Jusayan

macjusayan@yahoo.com

My presentation has two parts. My presentation has two parts.

CSOs' participation in implementing ODA CSOs' participation in implementing ODA funded projects and funded projects and

CSOs' initiatives and practices in promoting CSOs' initiatives and practices in promoting accountability.accountability.

ODA in the PhilippinesODA in the Philippines

““Japan remains the largest source of ODA in the Japan remains the largest source of ODA in the Philippines with aid amounting to US$ 372 million in Philippines with aid amounting to US$ 372 million in 2002. 2002.

It is to be noted though, that there has been increasing It is to be noted though, that there has been increasing criticisms of Japanese ODA,criticisms of Japanese ODA,

• as a mechanism to expand trade and investment as a mechanism to expand trade and investment opportunities for Japanese corporations and opportunities for Japanese corporations and

• a strategy to impose policy conditionalities on a strategy to impose policy conditionalities on recipient countries.recipient countries.

Trade and investments ties between Philippines and Trade and investments ties between Philippines and Japan - the latter is obviously in the most Japan - the latter is obviously in the most advantageous and dominant positionadvantageous and dominant position

• terms of trade are unequivocally in favor of Japan, terms of trade are unequivocally in favor of Japan, with Japan earning trade surplus out of its exports with Japan earning trade surplus out of its exports of high value commodities to the Philippines of high value commodities to the Philippines

• investments highly placed in strategic areas and investments highly placed in strategic areas and sectors complementing and enhancing its global sectors complementing and enhancing its global competitiveness in the industrial sector. competitiveness in the industrial sector.

CSOs' Participation in CSOs' Participation in Implementing ODA Funded Implementing ODA Funded ProjectsProjects

In the Philippine, CSOs' initiatives to In the Philippine, CSOs' initiatives to engage government in ODA engage government in ODA implementation took a long process of implementation took a long process of struggles and sacrifices.struggles and sacrifices.

During Marcos era in late 70s to the 80sDuring Marcos era in late 70s to the 80s

•ODA was not a major issue ODA was not a major issue •The issues: human rights, peace The issues: human rights, peace

and justice, and freedom from and justice, and freedom from dictatorship. dictatorship.

We know that there are other We know that there are other organizations who called themselves organizations who called themselves alternative groups who fight against alternative groups who fight against the dictatorship. the dictatorship.

militant leftist groupsmilitant leftist groups NDF, CCPNDF, CCP

Other extremist groups Other extremist groups MILF, MNLF.MILF, MNLF.

NGOs were born as alternative groups NGOs were born as alternative groups to fight poverty in the countryside to fight poverty in the countryside

providing basic services to the providing basic services to the people in the remote areas where people in the remote areas where services supposedly the services supposedly the government should deliver were government should deliver were wanting. wanting.

The Post EDSA Peoples' Power RevolutionThe Post EDSA Peoples' Power Revolution

Enabling environmentEnabling environment

Two sides:Two sides:• Government initiativesGovernment initiatives• CSOs initiativesCSOs initiatives

Changes in Policy environmentChanges in Policy environment

New constitution in 1987New constitution in 1987 Structural changes giving recognition to CSOsStructural changes giving recognition to CSOs

•Conservation of natureConservation of nature•Party list representation in CongressParty list representation in Congress

Reorganization of National Agricultural and Fishery Reorganization of National Agricultural and Fishery Council – CSOs representation in the council and Council – CSOs representation in the council and different committees (food crops, aquaculture and different committees (food crops, aquaculture and fishery, etc)fishery, etc)

Creation of National Anti Poverty Commission – Creation of National Anti Poverty Commission – sectoral representation (farmers, fisherfolks, urban sectoral representation (farmers, fisherfolks, urban poor, women, youth)poor, women, youth)

Social Environment: Partnership and Social Environment: Partnership and collaboration with international NGOs (with US collaboration with international NGOs (with US NGOs) NGOs)

Debt for nature swapDebt for nature swap

•US congress appropriated $25 million for US congress appropriated $25 million for endowment for a non-profit foundation as endowment for a non-profit foundation as part of its $125 million commitment for part of its $125 million commitment for Natural Resources Management Program in Natural Resources Management Program in the Philippinesthe Philippines

• In 1994, WWF turned over to FPE an In 1994, WWF turned over to FPE an endowment of PhP 569 million. endowment of PhP 569 million.

Networking and Linkaging among CSOs to Networking and Linkaging among CSOs to engage government for policy reformsengage government for policy reforms

Agrarian Reform Now or AR Now – an advocacy group Agrarian Reform Now or AR Now – an advocacy group agrarian reform in the country.agrarian reform in the country.NGOs for Fisheries Reforms – an advocacy group NGOs for Fisheries Reforms – an advocacy group fishery sector and coastal resource managementfishery sector and coastal resource managementCampaign against mining – advocacy group to stop Campaign against mining – advocacy group to stop large-scale mininglarge-scale miningCaucus for Development NGOs or CODE NGO – a Caucus for Development NGOs or CODE NGO – a network of national and regional networks that advocate network of national and regional networks that advocate for good governance and transparency in governmentfor good governance and transparency in government

Other network at the regional level in AsiaOther network at the regional level in Asia

AsiaDHRRA – a network of DHRRA countries AsiaDHRRA – a network of DHRRA countries in Asia that promotes rural community in Asia that promotes rural community development. Engages the ASEAN to influence development. Engages the ASEAN to influence FTA in member countriesFTA in member countries

Asian Farmers Alliance – organized by Asian Farmers Alliance – organized by AsiaDHRRA AsiaDHRRA

CSOs' Emerging Practices for AccountabilityCSOs' Emerging Practices for Accountability

What is accountability?What is accountability? Right spending and utilization of resources according to Right spending and utilization of resources according to what is planned and agreed upon what is planned and agreed upon

Financial management/ system, Financial management/ system, program operations, program operations, administration, andadministration, and governance, governance, monitoring and evaluationmonitoring and evaluation

Doing your mandate as an organization. Doing your mandate as an organization. Following the laws of the landFollowing the laws of the land

To whom CSOs are accountable?To whom CSOs are accountable?

Externally to PartnersExternally to Partners DonorsDonors Community Community GovernmentGovernment Co-development workersCo-development workers

Internally to its:Internally to its: leadership leadership membershipmembership staffstaff

Practices Promoting AccountabilityPractices Promoting Accountability

PhilDHRRA CasePhilDHRRA Case- a national network of 64 NGOs- a national network of 64 NGOs

- has national board and secretariat - has national board and secretariat

- 3 regional boards and secretariats one each for - 3 regional boards and secretariats one each for Luzon, Visayas, and MindanaoLuzon, Visayas, and Mindanao

- a member of CODE NGO and AsiaDHRRA- a member of CODE NGO and AsiaDHRRA

- serves as Secretariat and project holder for AR - serves as Secretariat and project holder for AR NOW and Alliance Against Mining NOW and Alliance Against Mining

Promotes accountability to its partnersPromotes accountability to its partners

Conforming to standards mandated by lawConforming to standards mandated by law Observing certain standards as prescribed Observing certain standards as prescribed

by certifying institution – the Philippine by certifying institution – the Philippine Council for NGO Certification or PCNCCouncil for NGO Certification or PCNC

Encouraging its member NGOs to undergo Encouraging its member NGOs to undergo PCNC evaluation and get certifiedPCNC evaluation and get certified

PCNC - a quasi-government body established PCNC - a quasi-government body established through the initiative of 6 of the country's largest through the initiative of 6 of the country's largest NGO networks in the countryNGO networks in the country

• Association of FoundationsAssociation of Foundations

• Bishops Businessmens' Conference for Human Bishops Businessmens' Conference for Human DevelopmentDevelopment

• Caucus of Development NGO or CODE NGOCaucus of Development NGO or CODE NGO

• League of Corporate FoundationLeague of Corporate Foundation

• National Council for Sustainable Development National Council for Sustainable Development FoundationFoundation

• Philippine Business for Social ProgressPhilippine Business for Social Progress

PCNC mission and goalsPCNC mission and goals

To create an environment where NGOs enjoy To create an environment where NGOs enjoy credibility and confidence of its various partners. credibility and confidence of its various partners.

• To set standards for financial accountability and To set standards for financial accountability and governance;governance;

• To provide a mechanism of certification for NGOs To provide a mechanism of certification for NGOs that meet established minimum criteria for greater that meet established minimum criteria for greater transparency and accountability;transparency and accountability;

• To build confidence with the donor community in To build confidence with the donor community in the accountability and governance of NGOs; andthe accountability and governance of NGOs; and

• To make the NGO certification known, understood, To make the NGO certification known, understood, and accepted by the non-profit community. and accepted by the non-profit community.

PhilDHRRA Network Monitoring ToolPhilDHRRA Network Monitoring Tool

Members regularly comply to update the Members regularly comply to update the network on their:network on their:• On-going programs/ projectOn-going programs/ project

• Community and sectors serveCommunity and sectors serve

• Contribution to poverty alleviation in the Contribution to poverty alleviation in the community the operatecommunity the operate

Number of farmers provided with capitalNumber of farmers provided with capital Number of women trained for livelihoodNumber of women trained for livelihood etc.etc.

CODE NGO Initiative in promoting good CODE NGO Initiative in promoting good governance and accountabilitygovernance and accountability

PDAF Watch PDAF Watch • Priority Development Assistance Fund – a Priority Development Assistance Fund – a

government fund use to provide infrastructure government fund use to provide infrastructure projects in the countrysideprojects in the countryside

• It is a fund allocated to each of the It is a fund allocated to each of the congressmen/women congressmen/women

• Local government units in the country side submit Local government units in the country side submit proposal for approval by concerned proposal for approval by concerned congressman/womancongressman/woman

• Most controversial public fund because of Most controversial public fund because of corruption corruption

PDAF Watch Purpose PDAF Watch Purpose

To monitor the performance of PDAF To monitor the performance of PDAF funded projectsfunded projects• Proper utilization of funds?Proper utilization of funds?• Proper bidding observed?Proper bidding observed?

Covered project for monitoring were Covered project for monitoring were those that were implemented five those that were implemented five years agoyears ago• Projects implemented according to plan?Projects implemented according to plan?

The issue of exacting accountability The issue of exacting accountability should not only be confined to should not only be confined to

government and CSOs but it should be government and CSOs but it should be equally a concern by all of us as well. equally a concern by all of us as well.

After all, we are accountable for what After all, we are accountable for what we do and for not doing what we we do and for not doing what we

should do. should do.

Maraming Salamat Po Sa Maraming Salamat Po Sa Inyong LahatInyong Lahat

www.phildhrra.orgwww.phildhrra.org