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Through the years, it has formed
and nurtured a strategic alliance of people’s organizations,
nongovernment organizations and progressive sectors of government and
business. They share a
common vision of improving the total well-being of and
establishing a sustainable future for every Filipino through social
justice, accountability and transparency in governance.
The CODE-NGO member
organizations committed themselves to the Covenant for Development signed
in 1991 and strived to adhere to the high standards of development work as
stated in the Code of Conduct. The network encourages its members to exert
considerable effort in improving organizational systems and procedures.
In an attempt to
strengthen the decentralization efforts which was given impetus by the
Local Government Code signed in 1991, CODE-NGO also saw the need to focus
on strengthening regional formations. CODE-NGO sought to increase the
influence of regional networks of NGOs, POs and cooperatives on local
policies and in effectively participate in crafting the decisions of their
respective local government units.
Likewise the network
delved on developing its own as well as its members’ capacity to
influence macro policies. Seeing the need to adopt to a constantly
changing environment, the network embarked on developing a successor
generation of development workers and leaders. Aware of the reality of
diminishing inflow of resources from donor countries, it has explored
development financing by documenting sustainable NGO practices.
Aware that policy
advocacy, civil society participation in governance and development in
general cannot take place in a government led by an inept and corrupt
President, CODE-NGO bravely took on the challenge of advocating for the
resignation, impeachment or ouster (RIO) of Joseph Ejercito Estrada.
CODE-NGO joined more than a hundred of alliances and networks of civil
society, business and political groups in reviving the Kongreso ng
Mamamayang Pilipino (KOMPIL II). Owing to the wide reach of its network
and to its experience in networking, CODE-NGO ably served KOMPIL II as its
Secretariat during the duration of the impeachment trial and even during
People Power II. CODE-NGO together with other member organizations of
KOMPIL backstopped the contingent in EDSA while its member networks acted
as convenors for KOMPIL and
KOMPIL like formations in Northern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
In the recent siege of
Malacañang by pro-Erap supporters, CODE-NGO were among the civil society
organizations who put up a symbolic civil society defense in Mendiola,
Manila. CODE-NGO leaders played a major role in building consensus among
the civil society groups on the proper course of action for civil society.
CODE-NGO was also there when KOMPIL II, the military, the government and
other civil society groups reclaimed the EDSA Shrine. Once again, it
served as the core secretariat for the operations at the EDSA Shrine.
The gains for the past
ten years are overwhelming, however, so are the learnings. Like all other
development organizations, the CODE-NGO member networks had it’s share
of difficulties. The network has confronted the problems of relevance in
Philippine society as well as diminishing resources.
This year, on the
occasion of its 10th anniversary, CODE-NGO will celebrate a
decade of work dedicated to social development. Being the biggest and the
most ambitious coalition of NGOs ever formed in the history of development
work, CODE-NGO proposes to take the lead in the celebration of
achievements of development organizations in the country. As the
organization did in 1997, CODE-NGO will host a Social Development Week on
24-28 November 2001.
Highlights
Social
Development Week. As
CODE-NGO did during the Social Development Week held in February 1997, the
one-week celebration will showcase the contribution of development
organizations to the progress of the country, promote NGOs to the public
through mass media campaign and to provide a venue for interaction among
development NGOs and other sectors of society. This will be the biggest
gathering of civil society organization in the country. The CODE-NGO
Network alone has over two thousand non-government organizations and
cooperatives CODE-NGO member NGOs, POs and cooperatives nationwide will
participate in the Social Development Week –this comprises almost half
of all the development organizations nationwide. Other major national
alliances and networks of civil society organizations particularly those
who actively took part in People Power II will be invited to actively
participate in the Trade Fair, Symposia and Development Education
Campaign. This will be a reunion of sorts and a venue to celebrate our
gains in advancing democracy and development work in the country.
Third
National Congress. During
the Third Congress CODE-NGO will celebrate it’s gains, reflect on its
past experiences and the current state of affairs in the country.
Cognizant of its emerging role in the future, CODE-NGO will
likewise endeavor to define its strategic direction for the next ten
years. Over two thousand non-government organizations and cooperatives
nationwide will calibrate its plans for the next ten years based on this
framework. With this Congress, CODE-NGO will prepare itself and its member
networks to become the prime mover for development in the country while
promoting democracy and participatory governance in the future.
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