NGOs renew commitment to code of conduct

By Angelica Katheryn Carballo

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Member-organizations of CODE-NGO, the largest umbrella organization of civil society organizations in the Philippines, are renewing their commitment to a Code of Conduct that seeks to ensure transparency and accountability of their actions.

Under the CODE-NGO Covenant on Philippine Development, member-organizations commit to manage the organizations in keeping with “the highest standards of competence, integrity and professionalism and making full and responsible use of resources.”

Organizations also commit to ensure that financial policies, systems and practices comply with laws, generally accepted accounting principles and agreements reached with donors and fund resources.

The Code of Conduct likewise seeks to unite the civil society organizations working in different sectors of society in the common effort to promote, protect and assert the right to development of the people and also foster engagement with stakeholders, partners, communities and government in an atmosphere of openness and mutual respect.

CODE-NGO Executive Director Sixto Macasaet said that it was timely to renew that commitment to the Code of Conduct to ensure integrity of civil society and protect their credibility with the publics that it serves. Integrity also gives it the moral authority to engage in critical engagement.

“Since we challenge government and business to practice integrity and accountability, we must make sure that our own conduct and practices cannot be questioned,” stressed Macasaet.

CODE-NGO is taking the lead in embracing integrity as it is the largest CSO nework in the country, composed of 12 national and regional CSO networks, which represent 1,600 non-government organizations, peoples organizations and cooperatives nationwide.

CODE-NGO’s member networks include the Association of Foundations, Coalition for Bicol Development, Codillera Network of Development NGOs and Pos, Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine Partnership for Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas, Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks, National Confederation of Cooperatives, National Council for Social Development Foundation in the Philippines, Eastern Visayas Network, Western Visayas Network and and Central Visayas Network.

The Covenant on Philippine Development was ratified during the first National Congress of NGO on Dec. 4, 1991 and member-organizations renewed their commitment to it during the 5^th Congress from Nov. 20-22 at the Institute of Social Order, Social Development Complex in Ateneo de Manila University.

CODE-NGO convenes its National Congress every five years to review the work for the past years and set directions for the next five years. The 5^th Congress will gather about 1,00 delegates from member networks and organizations to approve the Strategic Plan for 2013-2017.

The 5^th Congress also marks the culmination of the network’s celebration of its 20^th year in social development work in the Philippines.