Expansion to Ebbs and flows of a painful transition:History of NGO networking in the Philippines

The first three phases of the history of NGOs and subsequent networking in the Philippines have been discussed in the previous post. I classified them from Relief to Release because like the trend worldwide, NGO work started as a response to the ravages of war through relief and reconstruction activities. Later, as engagement in social reformation and transformation endeavors were met with repression by oppressive regime, those working with NGOs found release from their suppressed commitment to serve.The next three phases witness the strategic role of NGOs in changing the sociopolitical landscape.

Expansion and Innovation (1978-1983) 

Learning from the past experiences, NGOs refined their strategies. This effort resulted to qualitative increase in the organized mass movement, as reflected in the formation of more alliances and federations of people organizations. The NGO movement itself experienced tremendous increase in numbers. Human rights advocacy was broadened to include other areas of concern like indigenous people’s rights, ecology/environment problems, and women rights. As a result, more NGOs were organized bannering on respective sectoral issues. This period also witnessed the utilization of new approaches and tools for development like the micromedia, participatory action research, popular education, alternative medicine, and appropriate technology.

Following the increased unpopularity and isolation of the Marcos regime in the international scene, foreign funds flowed freely in support of development work.  Many Northern NGOs and funding agencies even went to the extent of setting up their Philippine desk making the country their base of operations in Asia because of the bulk of projects being supported here. Repression in various forms, however, was also intensified.

Image credit: www.phildhrra-mindanao.org 

As NGOs grew in number, networking as a strategy became attractive because of its effectiveness in lobbying and advocacy work. More regional and national networks were formed during this period, e.g., Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PHILDHRRA) which was established in 1983. Moreover, the other regional and provincial NGOs were integrated into new networks.

With these developments, NGOs have become “key players in the country’s sociopolitical landscape.”

NGO Support to the Surging Mass Movement (1983-1986)

The Aquino assassination in 1983 became a rallying point of growing opposition and outrages which gave birth to the “parliament of the streets.” It was a period of multi- sectoral organizing and alliance building as regional and national federations and alliances of POs were formed with NGO support. Similarly, NGOs strengthened their existing networks and formed new ones to share resources and find security in their numbers amidst continuing military harassment. NGOs’ support to the surging of mass movement culminated in their participation in the Snap Election and the subsequent EDSA Revolt.

Image credit: cbclawmatters.blogspot.com

Ebbs and Flows of a Painful Transition (1986-1992)

The EDSA event and the wave of political democratization that followed changed the national terrain overnight. Development efforts continued to flourish as NGO works increased significantly amidst the newly won democratic spaces. In acknowledgement of their role in organizing and mobilizing the popular forces before and during the EDSA Revolt, the contribution of NGOs (and POs) to national development was formally recognized.

The 1987 Constitution clearly acknowledged the role of NGOs and POs in a democratic society by including them in its key provisions.  In a sense, the role of NGOs was institutionalized, so much so that during the first years of Cory government, many of the appointees came from the NGO community. Even funds from government and international bodies were coursed through the NGOs.  As a result, there was a proliferation of NGOs all over the country, covering all possible areas and lines of work. Abad  (1990) observed that this made the Philippines one of the most dynamic NGO communities in Asia, if not in the world.

Image credit: jjcicsi.org

Traditional politicians, entrepreneurs, and even government units that set up their own NGOs for vested interests, however, took the situation. This was so prevalent that so-called development NGOs were forced to band together to distinguish themselves from pseudo ones. Two new networks were formed during the post EDSA period, namely: the Council for People’s Development (CPD) and the Philippine Support Service Agencies (PHILSSA) in 1986 and 1988, respectively.  Others strengthened their unity, stepped up their coordination efforts and responded frequently to unfolding events as networks– and not merely as individual NGOs.

The formation of the Caucus of Development NGOs (CODE NGOs) in 1990 was one of the high points of this trend. In a move unprecedented in the history of the Philippine NGO movement, ten of the largest NGO networks in the country, including the church-based networks and the cooperative sector representing about 1,500 NGOs nationwide, came together in the first ever National Congress of NGOs in December 1991.

Paradigm shift brings me back to my first love

Having settled down and established my own family in 1992, I made it a point to be cautious in my involvement, so as not to repeat the traumatic isolation. This made me distance myself from any engagement that would spark the flame of activism in me . While I could not resist the deep seated commitment to serve the people, I redirected it in line with my profession as registered social worker. This is where my volunteerism was honed in working with welfare and development organizations, apart from my teaching work in the University.

I joined the professional organization of registered social workers and subsequently elected as president of the Iloilo Chapter which brought me later to the national board. Incidentally, our association is a member of welfare and development network. This provided an opportunity to apply my learnings from previous involvement in building alliances and coalition work. Eventually, I was elected as president of this network - the Iloilo Council of Social Development, with 25 member NGOs (non-government organizations). It paved the way to work with former partners in cause-oriented groups and new colleagues in development endeavors. Enjoying the new-found challenge, combining previous skills with the knowledge in social work, we made innovations in networking. Thereafter, I found myself engaging with the government in the Provincial Development Council, having elected as co-chair of the governor of Iloilo for 3 consecutive terms, as NGO representative. I had also the privilege to be part of the private sector representatives (PSR) in the Regional Development Council, chairing the Social Development Committee.

Such partnership has brought unprecedented breakthroughs in development and social work. Two ordinances were passed in the province to give recognition to the role of welfare and development workers and social workers in nation building. The annual celebration of NGO- PO (People’s Organizations) Week every first week of December resulted to the organization of Iloilo Coalition of NGOs and POs (ICON). This umbrella network serves as rallying point of civil society organizations in Iloilo. Another ordinance is the celebration of the Social Work Week in Iloilo, and Western Visayas (as it was replicated in other provinces. Cognizant of my contribution, the Philippine Association of Social Workers awarded me as one of the Ten Outstanding Social Workers of the Philippines in 2004.

Living a relatively stable and peaceful life, I did not ask for more from God. But the intriguing comment of a prominent layleader in our Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches has stirred me up once more: “He should have proven himself an outstanding pastor first and foremost, not just as social worker.” I was humbled and made me realized I have departed from my first love - pastoral ministry. If social work, development, NGO community has made use of my talent and commitment, why can’t I do the same or even more in the ministry?

Next post: A return to my first love