Committee on peoples participation approves bill on accreditation of

NGOs & POs eligible to access govt funds

The House Committee on Peoples Participation has approved a bill providing a system
for the accreditation of non-government organizations (NGs! and peoples organizations (Ps!
eligible to access government funds" and ensure accountability and transparency in the use of
public money#
The committee chaired by $ep# %en&amin 'silo ((
st
)istrict" *anila! approved the
proposal embodied in House %ill +,-- entitled .NG 'ccreditation for Government /und
$eleases 'ct0 1hich substituted H% 2+++ principally authored by $ep# Teddy %aguilat" 3r# (4one
)istrict" 5fugao!#
%aguilat said the bill aims to recognize the need of the 6tate to establish a central
accrediting agency for the NGs and Ps see7ing to be entrusted 1ith government funds# He
further said it also aims to provide for a system of accountability and transparency by pinpointing
responsibility over the proper utilization of government funds and the successful implementation
of the pro&ects#
The bill provides it is a declared 6tate policy to encourage independent NGs and Ps to
involve themselves in underta7ings" 1hich promote the interest and 1elfare of the nation# 's
facilitators of the peoples interests at the grassroots level" these organizations may implement
programs and pro&ects using public funds#
8se of such funds shall" at all times" be governed by the principles of effectiveness"
efficiency" economy" transparency" ethics" and shall not be pre&udicial to the public service# 5t is
also the policy of the 6tate to vigilantly guard against organizations siphoning public funds for
private ends to the detriment of the public good and of public service" the bill further provides#
The bill covers all NGs and Ps that see7 to implement programs and pro&ects public
funds from any department" agency" and instrumentality of the national government and local
government units (4G8s!" including government-o1ned and controlled corporations (GCCs!"
and their subsidiaries" either through competitive bidding or through direct releases to
beneficiaries
5t provides for the criteria and procedures for the accreditation of NGs and Ps 1hich
are applying for government funding" and 1hich shall only be valid for one year and may be
rene1ed yearly
The measure re9uires accredited NGs and Ps to prove and provide evidence on the
follo1ing: ;ears of <=istence> 4egal Personalities> /und 6ources and /inancial Condition> Place
of %usiness> 6uccessful Trac7 $ecord> Compliance to 'll $eportorial $e9uirements> Non-
<=istence of a Conflict of 5nterest and Nepotism> and 4egitimacy and Commitment to Public
service
NR # 3521
JULY 8, 2014
'nother salient feature of the bill is that it provides for a *ulti-Partite %ody validation of
the legitimacy and capacity of the NGs and Ps" 1ithin 2? days of accreditation# 5t also
mandates the )epartment of 6ocial @elfare and )evelopment ()6@)! to act as Central
'ccrediting and $epository 'gency for NGs see7ing to be entrusted 1ith government funds
5t limits the types of programs and pro&ects to those that the government is not capable to
underta7e 1hich include" but not limited to" any underta7ing that involves construction"
maintenance" operation and management of infrastructure pro&ects and of livelihood programs
and pro&ects#
5t ma7es NGs and Ps eligible to participate in the procurement of goods and services as
contractor and enhances the transparency of the procurement process by inviting the
representatives of Commission and 'udit (C'! and some observers in the process by the %ids
and '1ards Committee (%'C!
5t re9uires all related information to be posted in public information boards (P5%s! and in
the 1ebsites of the Government rganizations" NGs and Ps" and the Philippine Government
<lectronic Procurement 6ystem (PhilG<P6!
4i7e1ise" it re9uires the respective government agencies" in coordination 1ith the
NGAP representatives" to monitor the proper usage of government funds entrusted to the
organizations" the proper implementation of the sub&ect programs and pro&ects" the proper
distribution of intended beneficiaries" and compliance 1ith time schedules for the completion of
programs and pro&ects
5n terms of penalties" the bill provides that any NG or P that fails to complete the
program and pro&ect or fails to li9uidate the funds upon demand by the government organization"
shall suffer a penalty ranging from suspension of accreditation" revocation of accreditation or
dis9ualification from obtaining programs and pro&ects from any government organization"
1ithout pre&udice to further civil or criminal liabilities# 4i7e1ise" any government organization
that releases public funds to unaccredited NGs or Ps shall be liable to administrative" civil or
criminal liabilities under relevant la1s#
The bill re9uires the )6@)" )%*" C' and NGs or Ps to formulate the $ules and
$egulations (5$$! implementing the provisions of the proposed 'ct#
House %ill +,-- is co-authored by 'silo" $eps# *a# 4ourdes 'costa-'lba ((
st
)istrict"
%u7idnon!" Cresente Paez (Party-list" CP-N'TCC!" *aria 4eonor Gerona-$obredo (2
rd
)istrict" Camarines 6ur!" 6ol 'ragones (2
rd
)istrict" 4aguna!" Pablo Nava lll (Party-list"
'PP<N)!" Noel Billanueva (2
rd
)istrict" Tarlac!" $osendo 6# 4abadlabad (C
nd
)istrict"
Damboanga del Norte!" Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales (Party-list" C5%'C!" Catalina 4eonen-Pizarro
(Party-list" '%6!" <lisa Eho (C
nd
)istrict" *asbate!" 4ucy Torres-Gomez (+
th
)istrict" 4eyte!"
6amuel Pagdilao (Party-list" 'CT-C56! and <mmi de 3esus (Party-list" Gabriela!# (2?! rbb