Difference between revisions of "Philippines NGO Sector"
From NGO Handbook
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==NGOs Today== | ==NGOs Today== | ||
| − | In 2001, the current president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was elected with strong NGO support and her administration is known for continually supporting NGO freedom. However, in 2006, she declared a state of emergency in the Philippines that “raised concerns of a threat of civil liberties.” These concerns were later confirmed “by hundreds of extrajudicial killings” of activists, civil society workers, and people associated with leftist organizations. | + | In 2001, the current president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was elected with strong NGO support and her administration is known for continually supporting NGO freedom.<ref>ADB 2007</ref> However, in 2006, she declared a state of emergency in the Philippines that “raised concerns of a threat of civil liberties.”<ref>ADB 2007:3</ref> These concerns were later confirmed “by hundreds of extrajudicial killings” of activists, civil society workers, and people associated with leftist organizations.<ref>ADB 2007:3</ref> The President did condemn the killings and called for legislation to address them.<ref>ADB 2007</ref> |
| − | Funding | + | ===Funding=== |
| − | There are very limited estimates as to what amount of money is given to NGOs in the Philippines. In and around 1999, it was suggested that “most NGOs operate on relatively small budgets ($80,000 and below).” | + | There are very limited estimates as to what amount of money is given to NGOs in the Philippines. In and around 1999, it was suggested that “most NGOs operate on relatively small budgets ($80,000 and below).”<ref>ADB 1999:5</ref> However, at the time, some of the larger NGOs could have been receiving up to $1.2 million annually. Grants and international NGOs are the main way that NGOs in the Philippines receive funding.<ref>ADB 1999</ref> Next to foreign organizations, NGOs receive funding inside the country from “government agencies, other Philippine NGOs, multilateral agencies and churches.”<ref>ADB 1999:5</ref> |
| − | Numbers and Types | + | ===Numbers and Types=== |
| − | It is estimated that there are as many as 60,000 registered NGOs in the Philippines today. | + | It is estimated that there are as many as 60,000 registered NGOs in the Philippines today.<ref>Philippine Council for NGO Certification. 2009. http://www.pcnc.com.ph/background.php PCNC: Background and Rationale.; ADB. 1999. A Study of NGOs: Philippines. Available at http://www.adb.org/ngos/docs/ngophilippines.pdf.</ref> This number includes all nonprofit organizations, including about 10,000 that are listed as people’s organizations (POs).<ref>Asian Development Bank (ADB). 1999. “A Study of NGOs: Philippines.” Available at http://www.adb.org/ngos/docs/ngophilippines.pdf</ref> People’s organizations are also referred to as grassroots organizations or community-based organizations (CBOs), and generally serve a specific population in a narrow geographic area. They sometimes are distinguished from other NGOs in while national and international NGOs commonly are formed to serve others (public benefit NGO), the POs are usually membership organizations (mutual benefit NGOs) whose purpose is to advance the interests of their members, such as cooperatives, unions, community associations, credit circles, farmers’ associations, youth clubs, and so forth. |
| − | The number of “development-oriented NGOs” is estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000. | + | The number of “development-oriented NGOs” is estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000.<ref>ADB 1999:1</ref> Development type NGOs have made the greatest impact on Filipino society thus far. They “[address] issues of poverty and governance, but also [build up] alternative practices and paradigms of the development vision they advocate.”<ref>ADB 1999:2</ref> Though most NGOs in the Philippines are called development NGOs, they provide a range of services and expertise. A number of them focus on environmental and agrarian issues and are successful in impacting public policy and coming up with programs that involve the community (i.e. anti-pollution campaigns). |
| − | Self-regulation and Tax-Exempt Status of NGOs in the Philippines | + | ==Self-regulation and Tax-Exempt Status of NGOs in the Philippines== |
The rapid increase in the number of NGOs in the Philippines has raised concerns about the ability of the government to regulate the many organizations and to be sure that they are legitimate and use their resources according to their stated goals and objectives. The Philippine Department of Finance (DOF) challenged the NGO community to establish a mechanism to certify the accountability, legitimacy, and transparency of NGOs. It was further stipulated that only those NGOs that are so certified would receive a status as donee institutions with tax breaks for donors to these institutions. | The rapid increase in the number of NGOs in the Philippines has raised concerns about the ability of the government to regulate the many organizations and to be sure that they are legitimate and use their resources according to their stated goals and objectives. The Philippine Department of Finance (DOF) challenged the NGO community to establish a mechanism to certify the accountability, legitimacy, and transparency of NGOs. It was further stipulated that only those NGOs that are so certified would receive a status as donee institutions with tax breaks for donors to these institutions. | ||
Revision as of 12:26, 9 March 2009
Charity and welfare work in the Philippines dates back to the beginning of colonization.[1] The motivation behind Kawanggawa (“charity”) is based on the notion of Pakikipagkapwa, meaning “to holistically interact with others” and Kapwa, meaning “shared inner self.”[2] When charity and volunteer work are carried out, it is implied that there is “an equal status between the provider of assistance and the recipient,” as exemplified by Damayan—the assisting of peers when in crisis—and Pagtutulungan, which means “mutual self-help.”[3]
These conceptions have acted as a backdrop to the successful development of the large number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the country today.
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