NGOs and Its Participation in Policy-Making | 71
CHAPTER I
PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
IntroductionAs students of Political Science, we have constantly
seen how the political curtain unveils one controversy after
another. We have seen how actors became politicians and politicians
became actors in the stage of public service. Early on, we have
seen politicians misrepresent themselves as statesmen and how they
flaunt their moves for political advancement. However, we noticed
that socio-civic groups or NGOs have entered the curtain of
politics. Although a congregation of individuals, they collectively
behave as one of the prominent political figures in the government.
They have thrust themselves to check and protect the interest of
the citizenry. Like that of corporations with juridical
personality, with an intellect of a collective hive, NGOs have
emerged as a political force to be reckoned with.
Non-Government Organizations have taken the political sphere
where and their presence cannot be ignored. They have actively
taken the helm in addressing the most pressing political issues.
NGOs have been in the forefront of the cameras, and front pages of
the news. It is only but natural that we take interest in their
activities. Given the foregoing, our group has taken notice of
their presence. However, their existence has not been actually
considered an exact science in our local setting so to speak.
Because of this, our resources are short and scarce. However, this
set back has not deterred us from choosing this subject. To digress
a little, we have actually considered other topics that could have
given us a plethora of ideas to work on. Even if these other
subject matters can give us more pages easily, we decided to work
on the said topic because this frontier have been very seldom
charted as aptly placed by Scott Peck.
Non-Government Organizations, to put it simply are organizations
created outside the government to tend and answer to certain
issues, usually humanitarian in nature. Supposedly represent the
power and initiative civil society possesses in a democratic
government and the novel spirit of man that who seeks to help his
fellow. Which is all well and good, for the more involvement
private citizens in public affairs the more democratic a state
seems and the state could use a little extra help. NGOs act as
lobbyist, activist, watchers, patrons, benefactors, organizers and
some extra hands for whatever cause they think is worth their time
and effort, and for that they should be commended.
However at the turn of the 21st century, there was a common
perception that NGOs were beneficial. But now, there seems to a
shifting view regarding their involvement in state matters and
their role in present day politics; for as NGOs steadily rose into
power during the last ten years many have begun to question NGOs
and some even begin to denounce them as threats to democracy and
state sovereignty. The purpose of this study is to give an in-depth
state study regarding the roles rather the new role NGOs play in
todays political arena their relationship and their dynamics with
state, as well as other institutions, and in re-examining them as
formidable political force.
One must also keep in mind that NGOs are not political parties.
NGOs, in theory, are primarily concerned with specific social
issues and while they may organize for a voice in political debate.
They do not organize for the sake of winning elections or to gain
access to the corridors of state power. NGOs are rooted in civil
society rather than the state. They may provide assistance or even
pay lip service in order to promote political causes and agendas,
but theyre doing to only in pursue of a social end. Apart from that
they, again in theory are completely detach from politics just like
the word non-government suggests and would preferably having
nothing with the whole business.
Background of the study
The entire idea was actually born out of a moments fancy. We
were brainstorming on possible subjects for our group thesis and we
decided upon the subject of NGOs ultimately. We had initially
assumed that everything was going to be pretty simple and that
collecting materials for our arguments was going to be easy. It was
only when we were reading up on it more and as our knowledge of the
subject matter grew did we realize as well as reinforce that age
old adage that you find out how little you know the more you
know-how intricate the dynamics regarding NGOs and governments
really were and began to find it fascinating.Its a wonder why in
this world so many things, especially those involving people, are
unsure. NGOs are no different; their role in society-whether that
of benefactor or pest-cant be cut into a single form. Like with
everything else involving people we began to understand that NGOs
can take almost any role and any combination of traits imaginable
and can have whatever purpose: grand, obscure or downright silly-
they care enough to raise banners for and call for numbers.
Basically, our growing interest in the subject of NGOs can be
explained by this little line: people are fun. Knowing the concept
of the NGOs is a difficult thing to grasp, its because of the
nature itself that it is not just another organization or a group
that you can easily predict unlike any traditional organization.
Aside from it, NGOs are a large sector of the society which is
diverse (TAFP 2001), although the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) has its list of NGOs in the Philippines, the lack
of a catalog is a constraint in identifying them.
The researchers interest grew even more because of the increase
of NGOs participation on politics- this made the team to pursue the
study. Nowadays, NGOs mushroomed and it seemed like they came out
of nowhere. From what the group has researched so far, this is not
the time that NGOs have made their success; it is only because
grassroots politics have come to life again. Their involvement with
policy making is newly recognized,
Statement of the ProblemThe research aims to provide a better
understanding of Non-governmental Organizations and the role they
play in our political realm, especially in their involvement in
policy making. The focus of this study is on the subject of NGOs
and their involvement in the formulation of policies. Drafting new
policies require extensive amount of research and considerable
capital-something which some officials, and sadly, our own
government lacks. NGOs fill in this unfortunate gap and conduct
research on certain subjects, issues, and circumstances upon
request by an official or out of their own volition to assist in
the legislative process. Here are few questions that our study will
try to focus on.1. How and why do NGOs engage in policy-making?
2. What can NGOs do well in legislation? What part in the
legislation process are the NGOs an indispensable part?
3. Are NGOs significant or merely marginal political actors in
policy-making?
4. Are there any bad impacts of NGOs participation in
policy-making?
5. What do NGOs have at present that affect their long-term
participation in policy-making? What are their weaknesses and
limitations?
Hypothesis
As a catalyst of political improvement, we assume that
Non-Governmental Organizations partake of a constructive critic in
our political scenery. If NGOs are players in the political scene
then understanding their nature and how they move is necessary if
we are to predict or at least get a good idea of what may happen in
the political playing field in the next few years or possibly even
the next decade. As political scientists, that is our primary
purpose. To read between the lines, find or confirm peoples true
intentions, to look for inviolable truths in the subject of human
affairs, and to destroy faulty perceptions.Non-Government
Organizations (NGOs) have become an important factor in
policy-making and an indispensable part in modern political affair.
They have been very useful in formulating policies and giving input
in every issue that need to be immediately addressed.
The reason we do so, is because from all these different
factors, all these different elements and circumstances, the
researchers can predict possible futures and outcomes so that we
may direct our actions in the most favorable way and therefore
increase our chances of always emerging in the greener side of
things. For this particular case, have decided to focus ourselves
into the study of NGOs; to study their role in determining
political circumstance, then from there maybe we can get a picture
of how they move, and their true roles in Philippine politics, and
hopefully along the way, get an idea on what may be in store for
the political arena in the next decade.
Theoretical Framework
Non-Government Organization (NGO) has been widely seen in the
political aspect as a face for political change. The numbers of
NGOs continuously increase as well as their prominence as they
enter the political arena. The relationship of civil society and
the state give rise to the growing prominence of NGOs in political
arena especially in policy-making. Given the fact that the civil
society consist of many interest groups, the government needs to
recognize peoples participation in order for them to minimize their
works and prevent chaos. In order to better understand the action
of NGOs toward politics, we should better understand the theories
and perspective regarding civil society which was presented in the
works of different political thinkers. In addition, the theory on
political contentions will also help in this study.
The Notions of Civil Society
Understanding civil society will help explain how it affects
NGOs participation in policy-making. Before they enter the
political curtain, they were just merely an advocacy group
promoting the interest of the citizens. Many political thinkers
give different perspective regarding civil society and how they
become significant actor in political change. They present ideas,
theory, and concepts that will make us understand how are these
non- political actor became a significant actor in politics.
At first, the notion of civil society is that it is essentially
a market society in which it has its own life independent to
political organization (Baccaro, 2001). According to John Locke,
civil society is an arena of self-standing sphere of pre-political
activities (Baccaro, 2001). They usually deal on economic
activities in order to accumulate property. However, the enjoyment
of property is difficult in the absence of centralized authority.
For this reason, civil society needs to create a central authority
which is the state. Thus, the participation of the people is needed
for the ensuring the effectiveness of the state to protect the
enjoyment of natural rights, especially the right to property.
There are different approaches of the concept of civil society
which were use in early modern Europe and North America, and to the
debates of contemporary governance. Civil society tended to enclose
the aspect of commercial society which they struggle against
despotism (Reid, 2008). According to Tocqueville (1988), the
formation and creation of these organization is the response to the
process of democratization. The effects of democratization give
greater scope for peoples participation and they became growing
influence in politics. Neo- Tocquevilleans believe that civil
society is the solution to the threats of democracy. Civil society
is also important because they weaken the tendency of rampant
individualism, which, according to Tocqueville, is inherent in
democratic societies (Baccaro, 2001).
After the theories of John Locke and Alexis de Tocqueville, we
will present the theory of JugerHabermas in order to further
understand civil society. In Habermasian tradition, civil society
is the process in which the people reach to understand issues of
common interest takes place (Baccaro, 2001). Unconstrained
communication taking place within civil society organizations
renews the political debate and forces the government officials to
be attentive and responsive to new issues arising at the boundary
of the system (Habermas, 1996). People can participate in politics
of deliberation, but the essence of democratic discussion cannot be
widely seen in the process. On the one hand, these associations
contribute to identify new problems and then pass them along to the
actors of institutional politics which process and transform them
into policies.
Contentious Politics
During the 20th Century, war, revolution, and disorganization of
people occurred all over the world. Many different actors and
identities appear and transform in episodes of contention. The
behavior of the people depends upon the behavior of the society and
state as well. Their ultimate interest lies in the dynamic of
processes through which new political actors, new identities,
organizations, and form of actions emerge during episodes of
contention (McAdam et. al, 2004).
Social movements, revolution, ethnic and religious conflict,
nationalism, civil rights and transnational movements are forms of
contentious politics presented in the books of McAdam, Tilly, and
Tarrow. This represented how the civil society struggle for a
change in the current status of their environment. The contentious
politics is the episodic rather than continuous event occurs in
public which entailed the participation of the makers of claims,
other group which recognized their claims with same interest as
what they are claiming, and the government as mediator, target, or
claimant (McAdam, Tilly, Tarrow, 2004).
Contentious Politics was divided into two subcategories:
contained contention and transgressive contention. Contained
contention refers to those cases which all parties are previously
established actors employing well established claims. On the other
hand, transgressive contention is a kind of contention in which
grows out of existing contained contention, that the interaction
between the old established one and new claims entitled to absolute
attention. The episodic public events expressing social and
political change often emerges from transgressive contention rather
than contained contention.
To explain how the theory of contentious politics came into
action here are some events including Philippines Yellow
Revolution. Parisian revolutionary struggles, American civil
rights, Italian postwar conflicts are well known varieties of
contentious politics (McAdam, Tilly, Tarrow, 2004). In the case of
the Philippines, the anti-Marcos mobilization of 1983-1986 was part
of political contentions. The movement against the Marcos
administration was known as the Yellow Revolution. The struggle
brought new, mainly elite and middle class group, against the
Marcos regime. The assassination of his rival, Senator Benigno
Aquino Jr., solidified and broadened the opposition to the regime
and set new challenges. As long as the Marcos administration didnt
respond to the growing and struggle of Filipinos, there were
continuous contentions in the society.
Figure 1. The Simple Polity Model (McAdam, Tilly, and Tarrow,
2004)
The theory on political contentions explains how the makers of
the claims, which is the civil society, press and pressure the
government, which is the claimants , target, or mediator, when an
issues or problems remained unresolved. The theory somehow gives a
broader perspective and better understanding on what was happening
right now in the society. In addition, this explains how and why do
civil society get involve in the political arena.
Civil society has become a term always present in every debates
on politics and policy making, and used as a subject for
categorizing different phenomena occurring in the society (Reid
2008). It includes the active participation of civil society in
policy-making whereas they have been a significant actor. Civil
society is arguably an indispensable element in a well- functioning
democracy. In fact, many issues and problems of the society are
being resolve not only through institutional channels but also
through the help of social movements.
Conceptual Framework
The variables are also identified: Non-Government Organizations
(NGOs) (variable A) and the policy-making (variable B). We have set
this as our variables, because of the fact that these two
parameters affect each other. One is the dependent variable
(variable B), and the other is the independent (variable A). The
perspectives from our selected sample will correlate them, and it
was analyzed on how it affects each other. We had set citizens
interest and policy or legislation as the indicators to avoid
further biases. Both are indicator in the two concepts, because
they are both critics of the state and the society.Significance of
the Study
Non Governmental Organizations have been in the political scene
for quite some time. They have been in the forefront of policy
making and major political turn in the government. Their presences
have been felt and will continue to be felt in the coming regime.
Also called civil society, these organizations have become some
sort of political pressure group that may lobby varying interest
covering all spectrums of society.
The relevance of this study is to provide an understanding on
how Non-governmental Organizations participate in the politics
especially in the policy making. This research would help many
people to understand how vital NGOs are in the society, thus, it
can be a solution to many complexities in our political system.
This will also be helpful in many scholars researching further on
the concepts of NGOs as a little reference for them. Realizing how
important they play a role in the policy making, they are really
influential to the policy makers of this country; helping them
constructs policies that are more efficient and substantive.
The researchers believed that participation of NGOs in the
process of policy making is significant as they seemed to be part
of the whole, contributing to every bill passed in the congress.
This study gives you a clearer notion on how they play their game
in the political arena.
Scope and Limitations
The study of NGOs and its political participation will be
explained in Philippine context under contemporaneous events. NGOs
being the main concept here will be our focus of study. To best
explains the involvement of NGOs in politics, the researcher
focused on the policy-making.
This study provides significant materials and information
scrutinizing the participation of Non Governmental Organizations in
the politics as well as their barrier in the system of policy
making in the Philippines. The reviews and content analysis of this
study accommodates the insight into the quality and quantity of
NGOs in engaging their participation in the Philippine politics.
The strategies we used to form our outline in this study can help
determine if the NGOs may become the aids or worse comes to worse
it may end up being the hindrance in the policy making process of
the Philippines. Many experts have made a study about the
importance of understanding the politics in disseminating the
relationship of NGOs to the political system, also in connection to
the civil society, scholars, and if the scope of the study is
within the reach of the target coverage of the study.
The information regarding the NGOs and political system of the
Philippines is very useful not only for further study in this area
but also in a better indulgent of a particular target group. This
shall help in designing interventions for this group and sending
the right message across to the right people through the use of the
right medium.
The relationship between the state and the society gives the
study two sides of perspective. One problem has been looked at from
many directions before any conclusions drawn. This study can be
used as a base for many further researches as the data which was
pertinent to the objectives of this research paper was used by the
researcher. Various data are available for further research.
Definition of Terms
1. Non-government Organizations NGOs are private organizations
that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests
of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social
services, or undertake community development (World Bank, 2009).
They include many groups and institutions that are entirely or
largely independent of government and that have primarily
humanitarian or cooperative rather than commercial objectives.
(Tigno, 1993 )2. Civil Society
Civil Society refers to the system of social relations based on
the association of people independently of the State and the family
which first emerged in Europe in the seventeenth century. Civil
society is characterized by "free" labor and a commodity market, a
system of law enforcement and voluntary association. Civil society
focuses or emphasizes more on either values or beliefs or on
institutions (Reid, 2008)3. Civil Society Organization
CSOs refer to different types of non-corporate private voluntary
institutions promoting a variety of public causes that includes
Non-Government Organization (NGO) as one form of CSO, though these
two are taken to mean the same thing (Serrano,1994).
4. Peoples Organization
1987 Constitution defines Peoples Organization (POs) as bona
fide associations of citizens with demonstrated capacity to promote
the public interest and with identifiable leadership, membership,
and structure (Tigno, 1993)
5. Policy-Making
Policy-making has been defined as the process by which
governments translate their political vision into programs and
actions to deliver 'outcomes' desired change in the real world
(Ogurida, 2009)
6. Lobbying Lobbying is an act of attempting to influence
government decisions, more often the legislations by any group of
people or an individual from the private sector or corporation
(www.dictionary.com)7. Lobbyist
A person who tries to influence government decisions in behalf
of the interest of the civil society (www.dictionary.com)8.
Political Contentions
Political Contentions mean episodic, public, collective
interaction among makers of claims and objects when (a) at least
one government is a claimant, an object of claims, or a party to
the claims, (b) the claims would, if realized, affect the interest
of at least one of the claimants (McAdam, Tarrow, Tilly, 2004 ).9.
Neo- Tocquivillean
Theorists like Robert Putnam who believes that the key to
successful democracy lies in societal and cultural factors. They
see the participation in the civil society as machinery for
producing the patterns of individual behavior and social
interaction necessary for democratic governance (Berman, 1997).10.
Contained Contention
Contained contention refers to those cases which all parties are
previously established actors employing well established claims.
transgressive contention is a kind of contention in which grows out
of existing contained contention, that the interaction between the
old established one and new claims entitled to absolute attention
(McAdam, Tarrow, Tilly, 2004).11. Transgressive Contention
Transgressive contention is a kind of contention in which grows out
of existing contained contention, that the interaction between the
old established one and new claims entitled to absolute attention
(McAdam, Tarrow, Tilly, 2004).CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
Review of Related Literature and Studies
I. What we know about the Non-Government Organizations (NGO) in
the Philippines
Non-Government Organizations are organizations that have
ingrained itself into Filipino politics during the course of the
last decade. They used to be nothing more or less than charity
organizations but as time went on they have attained a broad reach
of influence that can now influence political decisions and
direction. The state has even taken into using them as auxiliary
forces; augmenting the powers of the state by their cooperation and
assistance. We can expect NGOs to be active in years to come as the
political and social landscape of the Philippines shifts and one
can expect that NGOs will play a significant part in its
transformation. The focus of our study will strictly be in the
Philippine context, being that this subject matter is much to be
broad to be covered in its entire. This literature review will
discuss on: 1) rise of NGOs to a position of political influence;
2) relationship of state and NGOs; 3) relationship of NGOs and POs.
4) the participation of NGOs in the policy making.Civil Society
Organizations (CSO) became fashionable during the United Nations
summits of the 1990s. CSOs refer to different types of
non-corporate private voluntary institutions promoting a variety of
public causes that includes Non-Government Organization (NGO) as
one form of CSO, though these two are taken to mean the same thing
(Serrano,1994). NGOs strengthens civil society organizations by
advocating and supporting the reform of the state and to give
supplements to the traditional institutions of democracy such as
political parties, trade unions, and the media (Farrington and
Bebbington 1993). During the early 1990s, the title civil society
invaded the Philippine discourse, supersede the changes that
happened in the Eastern Europe in the 1980s (Serrano,1994). Civil
society focuses or emphasizes more on either values or beliefs or
on institutions. In the Philippines the use of civil society
includes both.
In the Philippines, it is hard to find a concrete count of NGOs
or CSOs yet the number is presumed to be large and growing. On 4
July 1946, Philippines was freed from its colonizers and attained
its independence. During the dictatorship of Marcos, the broad
fields of civil societies were limited; civil, human and political
rights are brought down and as a result, underground organizations
seeking for redemocratization was formed. The latter eventually
contributed a lot to end the Marcos regime through the famous
people power revolution of 1986. This gave inspiration for the
beginning of the recovery in civil society. Post-Marcos governments
partnered with NGOs in service delivery and public policy for the
reason that strong relationships with poor communities was built up
in the time of dictatorship. Not all of these NGOs formed with
charitable and good intentions, some are formed to advance
personal, rather than public welfare. In response to this, Caucus
of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) was formed, CODE-NGO aims to
promote professionalism, expand reach and increase the
effectiveness of NGOs. In other words: CODE-NGO aims to empower
civil society-getting people more involved in social issues and
increase the efficiency of NGOs as well to answer to organizations
that have formed in the name of personal interests.
Brought by the challenges of Globalization, a new set of
concerns roomed. Growing numbers of NGO, have conducted wide range
of activities, and undertook measures to resolve these concerns
such as implementing sustainable development, human rights
activism, social justice, environmental issues and many more, that
are ignored by the government agencies (Barghouth 1994; Bratton
1989; Chazan 1992; Fouler 1991; Fox &Henandez 1992; Frantz
1987; Ndegua 1993, 96; Ngethe&kanyinga 1992; Sauyal 1994). NGOs
serves as an arena which people help others for reasons other than
profit or politics. Economist and development planners acclaim the
role of associations in alleviating rural poverty and helping
communities to adapt to modernization. The relationship of NGOs to
social movement and their capacity to both empower people and
contribute to the alternative discourses of development and
democratization have profound impacts on sustainable development
(Fisher 1997). NGOs have the capacity to efficiently transfer
training and skills that guide individuals and communities to
compete in markets. They are also involved in a struggle for
ideological autonomy from the state, political parties and the
development apparatus (Friedman 1992, Lind 1992). NGOs politicize
issues that were not formerly politicized through the discourses of
development or democratic participation. The reasons why these NGOs
have expanded its role is because of the national problems the
government cant easily address. In addition, the expansion of NGOs
is also the result of the personal interests of politicians because
they notice how effective NGOs are. They are being used as
machinery to advocate politicians interests.
In the political space created by the political actors, new
concerns have mushroomed brought by globalization, contests, and
also by the failure of states. Growing numbers of groups entered
the scene, thus overtaking the governmental functions of the state.
According to the work of fisher (1997), there is a realization of
NGOs becoming a potential in development planning, policy making
and activism, however there are few studies on the impact of NGOs
on the relations of power among individuals, communities, and the
state, and thus this literature is limited only as there is little
discourse on the study of NGO practices (Fisher 1997) in resolving
problems of social welfare, service delivery and democratization.
But few works from different scholars presented some little
knowledge on this.
Scholars have reexamined the role of non-government organization
to the society, as well as the relationship of State and NGOs
(Fisher, 1997). NGOs have become an important arena of activities
in politics. These institutions have provided opportunities and
developed a political role independent from the main political
organizations in the Philippines. Organizations help in
complementing government services and in building civil society.
However, it is still debatable whether they are independent on the
structure of government. There are some instances that NGOs are
notably seen in political process and sometimes involve themselves
in the policy making.
Critics have foreseen that NGOs benefit the expanding diverse
society like providing training for those who are less fortunate,
in order to cope up and engage into competence, as a result,
greater participation can be achieved, thus, democratization can be
more appreciated (Fouler,1991; Frantz 1987 &Hyden, 1998). In
this process, people are educated in the sense that they are being
informed about the existing problems of the society. As Alexis de
Tocqueville stated, NGOs strengthen and improve interest of the
civil society. De Tocqueville distinguished the relationship
between the political associations organized independently on the
state. NGOs as an institution that is autonomous local-based
organization that is necessary for decentralizing and participatory
system of the state. These institutions coincide with the power of
mass and counter-hegemonic organizations and the declining appeal
of coherent class-based political characters. They committed to
relief and welfare activities; improve small-scale local
development projects and reforming both national and international
political empowerment.
NGOs beg to be considered nonpolitical but their political
nature can hardly be denied. The development of NGOs in the
Philippines can be rooted from the political aspect, specifically
during the time of dictatorship. NGOs traditional role in politics
is mainly advocacy in which they promote popular interest and
agendas. Whenever the issues take on a more comprehensive scope,
NGOs may play front line roles in the advocacy efforts together
with other cross-oriented groups (Alegre 1996). NGOs such as mass
media tend to popularized issues and campaigns and tend to
influence decision makers.
Philippines is an example of a developing country, wherein the
civil society is strong and possesses high degree of clientelism
and semi-clientelism. Activism and reformation have been an
important agenda in the late 17th century and latter 20th century
(San Juan and Alegre 1996). This time, substantial efforts made by
POs joined force with NGOs. This section examines the relationship
of non-governmental organizations and Peoples organization with the
state.
The politically left-of-center development nongovernment
organizations and peoples organizations have attempted to crossover
to state positions in order to implement social and economic
reforms (Reid 2008). Ben Reid argues that the Philippine experience
suggest that some NGOs and POs, far from challenging issues of
defined semiclientilism, are themselves in these very relationship.
Engagement with the state brings explicit dilemmas and proposes
that activist political groups would be better served by being
observant of the structural and historical constraints that
constantly set limits on the capacities for intervention in policy
making in order to achieve social and political changes. Thats why
NGOs and POs personnel are sometimes advised to enter government
positions because the state cannot manage to resolve the growing
dilemmas of the society.
In contrast to the Tocquevilleans, Gramscis conceptual approach
on explaining the involvement of NGOs and POs is in the civil
society in which he locates as a central component of traditional
relationships of power. The power being talked about is the
clientilism and semiclientilism existing in the society. The weak
nature of dominant section of class interests meant that these
interests had to rely upon civil society to stabilize social
relationship. The dependence of section of class interest to the
society will result as the clientilist relation. The conflicting
interests of different classes will cause chaos on ideologies.
Similar features of this kind of relation are clearly evident in
NGOs and POs. Conflict constantly takes place within this field,
NGOs and POs, are invariably spheres of contestations between
competing ideologies. The state and the historical bloc can adopt
discourses of good governance on the field of works of NGOs and
POs. In this process, NGO and PO leaders can be co-opted to give
the appearance of legitimacy to the state and political elite.
The policy making is often undervalued, yet it is a vital course
of action in the city, municipalities, provinces, and at the
national level. Policy making determines what services will be
provided to the residents and the level of those services, what
kinds of development will occur in the community, and it determines
what the communitys future will be. Public policies are guide to
decision making of a state, be it a city, town, province or a
country. These policies are based on a consultation which the law
making body have agreed upon governments are consulting their
constituents. This process is a complex one, which requires the
very best of the legislators.
In the international policy making, different actors are
involved in the process. According to the work of GeorgetaNae in
NGOs engagement in International Public Policy Making, it is
necessary to know the actors involved: public actors and private
actors - which NGOs belong. And so with the Philippines, there are
public and private actors too, one is from the government, on the
other hand, belongs from the private sector. These two actors are
the key players in the making of public policy, but how do these
two actually get themselves connected in the process? Legislative
body are vested with the power to make laws, therefore, they
directly participate in the process.
How NGOs get involved in the policy making?
Non Governmental Organizations have been active since their very
beginning in different socio civic activities. Brought by the
changes of globalization, NGOs have entered the world of policy
making. NGOs are really been effective in delivering welfare and
services in many parts of the world, indeed, these organizations
have supported marginalized sector of the country (Miller, 1994).
Their efforts are an improvement for the economic, social,
ecological, and political.
With the transition of true democracy in 1986, Filipinos and
many organizations began playing major roles in the policy making,
mainly according to Miller (1994), because of two factors: 1. the
Aquino administration paved way for the civil society to
participate in the policy making by the 1987 constitution and 1991
LGC 2. the continuing government obstacles that groups encountered
when trying to promote more equitable and sustainable approaches to
development. As the voice of the unheard, NGOs are there to
represent them. Just as the state failed to require their citizens
satisfaction, NGOs had the chance to penetrate the political
sphere, or more specifically in the policy making process. Filipino
NGOs increasingly identified political obstacles that blocks their
work and saw opportunities for actual influences, they place policy
advocacy above other agendas (Miller, 1994). In particular, NGOs
are able to introduce new set of issues to public agenda - concerns
which are not acquiescent to political action (Silliman,1998).
Policy Making Process
1. Agenda Setting
The political agenda is set by the government, but can also be
shaped by NGOs thru campaigns, and lobbying for issues, needs and
concerns.
2. Drafting
This step in policy making is drafting bills regarding on the
agenda they have set for. Usually, the policy making formally
starts here. Here, NGOs are involved in areas such as problem
identifying, proposing solutions and researching (INGO OING, 2009).
Consultation is the key element in this stage.
3. Decision
At this very crucial moment of the process, forms of political
decision-taking differ according on the national perspective and
legislation (INGO OING, 2009). Common characteristics are the
organization of a government policy directive a legislation, such
as passing a law by public referendum or parliamentary vote, which
requires enabling legislation. NGOs are open to participate and
should be involved in the decision making since, they are part of
the civil society, and the government is mandated to encourage
civil society in the policy making. Public authorities evaluate the
different views and opinions before the decision is taken. When
bills are approved by the congress which is the law making body of
the government, it goes to the executive for approval. When the law
is vetoed, it goes back to the legislative branch for review, and
after measures have taken, the bill will now become a law or a
public policy.
4. Implementation
NGOs are very active in this stage. Much of the work done by the
NGOs in the previous steps is to influence and to make sure that
they will legislate policies efficiently. In this phase, they make
sure that the outcome will be fulfilled. NGOs are focused in
awareness building, public awareness raising, and explanations of
advantage and disadvantages or the impact of such policy.
5. Monitoring
NGOs participation does not end in the implementation alone, at
this point; NGOs are monitoring the outcomes of the implemented
policy. They make sure, the purpose of the policy is achieved.
II. What we need to know about NGOs?
Given the history of NGO and how it was formed, the perplexity
of its creation should be answered in view of its context in the
local setting. They have virtually been in all facets of government
and our society. NGOs have been involved with social services
working hand in hand with Peoples Organization and the Government
itself to promote better standards of living.
But this aspect is merely one of the many socio-political fields
they have parked their channels at. NGOs can be seen delving into
law and policy making as one of the component part of Governance.
NGOs have been considered a political pressure group which can be
an ally or a strong adversary for politicians depending on their
stand and the interests affected. NGOs have sprouted from the grass
roots and reached out to the most influential echelons of
society.
Therefore in order to formulate and answer what we really need
to know about NGOs, we need to rise from the mundane levels of our
perception and actually understand what makes these groups thick
and tick. Considering our level in the thresholds of the academe,
as college students we are limited by mass media and the books that
are readily made available by the internet and local respectable
libraries. NGOs have been shrouded for the longest time and their
existence seems to have caught very little interest among society.
Despite their clamor and the righteous cause they lobby for, our
generation has perceived the NGOs with scant consideration. It is
therefore imperative not only to know their cause but how they get
their message across. With this in mind let us construct plausible
questions and issues that may be hurled to the cauldron of
knowledge as what we need to know, to wit:
1. We need to know what areas have been scaled by the NGOs and
what areas of our socio-political environment they still need to
enter or improve.
In the Philippines, there is an NGO involved in helping the
urban poor. There is an NGO involved in organizing workers and
upholding their interest. There is an NGO keeping a close eye on
the standards of the government. There is an NGO delving into the
complexity of policy making in various levels of the government
from the LGU up to the Senate and House of Representative. There is
an NGO extending its hands for education and child welfare. There
is an NGO upholding women and childrens rights.
In all of these aspects and facades of politics, there is always
an NGO that can be identified maintaining their interest as well as
the people specifically they cater to. According to the Philippine
Council for NGO Certification, there are several areas of concern
these Organizations have engaged into including but not limited to
the following:
a. Athletic, Character Building, Youth and Sports
Development.
b. Charitable
c. Cultural
d. Education
e. Environmental
f. Grant-making
g. Health
h. Micro Finance
i. Non-formal Education
j. NGO Network
k. Rehabilitation of Veterans
l. Religious
m. Research
n. Social Development
o. Social Welfare
p. Training
Considering the number of areas these NGO have already engaged
in, we are left with the voluminous task of identifying NGOs that
have considerable influence and effect on each of the subject.
However, the list of NGOs (over 60,000) and their actual number
presents a very trivial value. Hence, choosing a field that is
close to politics should be a more intelligent approach in the
matter.
At the moment, our political arena seems to have a plethora of
issues related to Social Welfare, Peace and Order, and Corruption.
A more viable choice of field would definitely include Social
Development, social Welfare, and the NGO Network.
Aside from the foregoing, we should also seek other fields that
NGOs should penetrate and consider as a strong partner of the
Government in Nation Building. Given the list above, we will
compare the said enumeration with relevant social issues plaguing
current politics to determine if these areas are enough and all
socio-political bases are covered. Verily, we would monitor current
events scenarios and check if said area has been considered and
covered in the abovementioned list.
2. We need to know the role of these groups in the
government?
What precisely is the role of an NGO in the Government? It
hardly seems in consonance considering that they are non-government
in nature. They are basically out of the governmental hierarchy,
but we need to know how they interact and intertwine as a factor in
nation building.
NGOs have spawned in the time of former Presidents Aquino and
Ramos. NGOs have been a part of policy making by being consulted in
each policy which have been cued for implementation by various
Local Government Units. This comes in the form of public
consultation.
Whenever a local government unit intends to enact a policy to
improve service towards its constituents, various NGOs are invited
and consulted especially if it will affect the constituents of
interest. Consequently, NGO have been a partner in Good Governance
by effectively conveying the needs of their area of interest.
In passing the Reproductive Health Bill, NGOs involved in the
area of Religion and Social Welfare have been consulted. This is
one of the methodology of policy analysis that aid the legislatures
analyze policy relevant information. With this method employed, the
government is sure to see both spectrums of the bill and how it
will affect each side of the coin.
NGOs can actually inject their own interest in policy making.
They can directly contact legislators and air their grievances. If
the legislator deems it fit, their proposal shall be considered and
the appropriate study for it shall inevitably be conducted.
Likewise, a legislator may call upon several NGOs concerned with
their proposal to help them lobby for the said cause. Hand in hand
with media, NGOs have been known to steal the limelight and
effectively push for their cause over multi mass media network.
This gives a boost to legislation.
According to Ira Sharkanskys Model, NGOs have involved
themselves in between Input stage and Output stage of policy
making. They continually make their presence felt and raise the
needs of their constituent or area of interest during the
administrative process of creating their policy.
Aside from being consulted by in policy making, NGOs have been
known to be a force to reckon with in checking political issues.
Using the same means to lobby for their cause, NGOs have the
ability to question and hold in check the conduct of government
officials. The number and influence of NGOs have become a political
pressure group involved in the dynamics of politics. It is
therefore important to have a more in-depth view as well as
identifying the issues of the NGO.
If we view the political set up of the government, we can
readily see that there are various players in the Political
Environment. We have decided to delineate the field into two sides
namely: Government Based Environment and the Outside Government
Environment.
Government Environment consists of the Executive, Judiciary, and
Legislative branches including independent bodies forming part of
the Government. On the other hand, Outside Government Environment
would include the NGOs, Public Organizations, Private Sectors,
Public-Private Partnership, the constituents, and International
Relations.
It is likewise paramount to understand how both environments
collide and cohere as an integral part of one complex primordial
soup of political interest. Understanding their relationship and
knowing the role of the NGO becomes more relevant because it will
help us determine the next question which begs to answer the
benefits we can derive from their existence.
Lastly, NGOs have been known to act as watch dogs in the
government and they constantly check the spectacles of government
transparency. This is one role of the government that should be
considered noteworthy of correlation in consonance with good
governance.
3. We need to know the benefits that can be derived from the
existence of these groups.
Knowing the role of NGO should be coupled with determining the
benefits we can actually derive from them. However, there is really
no way to gauge the benefits they rightfully provide because the
spectrum of interest and area NGOs covered is too vast. However,
based on the chosen area mentioned above, we can narrow down the
role and the effect of several NGO to gauge their value.
The degree of benefits would also vary from the perspective of
the person affected. For instance, students who have not yet
experience most of the walks of life can hardly relate to the
causes and benefits which Agricultural NGOs have been fighting for.
It is therefore a more prudent step to make a limited approach of
methodology to the topic and hopefully come up with a general
conclusion from the chosen areas of interest.
NGOs have been also known to extend help and use their resources
in favor of the less fortunate, the elderly, and other areas where
the government fall short of help for citizen and society in
general. This is an instant and apolitical benefit which can be
derived from the NGOs. This should also be highlighted and
considered with high regard in order to understand the nature and
benefits we can derive from NGOs.
4. We also need to know their organizational structure including
their funding and subsistence.
Every group has to have a system of administering its affairs.
It has to have a set of officers that run the said organization.
Considering that NGOs have been known to shape the system of
government and politics as we know it, it would also be relevant to
know how they are organized and how they operate.
In the same light, each organized group cannot actually perform
without any operational cost to reckon with. Therefore, the
financial system and how they source their funding should be
considered in our topic. How and where they get their funding
becomes relevant to us because the magnitude of their operation is
directly proportional with their resources and funding.
6. We need to know how these groups interact among each other
and who regulate these groups including the disciplinary process in
case of abuse or violations.
There are several NGOs involved in a particular interest. We
should therefore determine how they attain their ends. The
possibility of partnership is actually not remote, however, in
cases where their interest conflict in a certain area should be
considered as very relevant.
As mentioned in our earlier example, religious groups and social
welfare groups could not help but run conflict with each other as
regards the reproductive health bill. How these are resolved or if
they are settled at all appear to be relevant in our topic.
7. We need to know the political inclination of these groups and
how they float among other bodies that shape the future of our
country.
Most NGOs have been clearly criticizing the government and
continuously act as the watchdog as regards the standards of the
government. As a result, most NGOs have been perceived as left
leaning and not pro government. This is a natural side effect of
being in consistently a contra pose to balance the wheels of good
governance.
Knowing their political inclination becomes a part of our
mission to understand the role of NGOs in the Political environment
to ascertain their motive.
With this in mind, we can readily see if their movement are
merely reactionary or genuinely pro people or whatever area they
intend to protect.
NGOs have been seen in the news as front-liners in criticizing
as well as openly opposing the government. It is therefore
important to determine their real agenda in order to size up their
real role. Are they genuine allies of the people or just another
enemy of the government opening other venues for their causes?
With these questions in mind, we should get a better view and
understanding of the NGOs. However, the process at how to arrive at
the answers is a very tedious process. Methods to attain the ends
of the quandary should be employed considering that these issues
are sensitive and often time hidden from the prying eyes of the
public.
Our group intends to employ by way of methodology the conduct of
interviews, among others, combined with contextual research among
available books which we have already scouted, Including but we
would not limit our references to political science and public
administration books. We also intend to use relevant current events
indicator such as newspapers and the internet to aid us in arriving
at the answers for each respective questions.
After having answered most of the foregoing, we hope to have a
deeper understanding of NGOs. As political Scientist, this
knowledge would arm us not only with predicting the political
climate but also understand how the political chess board of the
government actually works knowing how and why the political chess
piece called NGOs move in the manner they do.
Synthesis
Despite the name, NGOs are political organizations.
Organizations that can form out of any cause under the sky and have
extended their influence to almost every single imaginable aspect
of Filipino life; their power and influence is undeniable-they are
literally involved in everything-while one NGO may only be involved
in only one particular issue; collectively speaking, the sheer
number of NGOs that are involved in the vast number of possible
rally points have made the NGOs one of todays great political
movers. This growing power may be what led the creation of the
CODE-NGO which serves as guideline (but certainly not a rulebook)
for NGOs on how to organize and work more efficiently: they needed
rules now. With power comes a certain need for discipline-a newly
budding organization can work without them just fine, but when you
get past a certain point in the organizations growth that it
becomes increasingly difficult to maintain order over its numbers.
As such, the fact that some people have decided to suggest certain
codes of procedure for NGOs are a testament to their growing
influence in society-especially during the last 10 years or so( or
to be more in tune with our context, during the Aquino and Ramos
administrations). It seems to be an inescapable truth that any
organization will inevitably be involved in politics at some point;
but that aside, NGOs and other civil organizations, become much
more understandable when they are looked at as political
groups-they are pushing for certain interests that they wish to
realize; these can range from the personal to the communal and
being that they are born out of civil initiative dealing with them
can be tricky. They also have access to certain powers which,
though not official, the reality of how the Philippine political
system works firmly allows them to possess.
There can be many interpretations for this phenomenon: such as
the fact that the Philippine government is relatively weak while
its society is quite strong which of course leads to conflicts and
maintains an air of friction between the two wills, and according
to the our findings it that society is winning-for good or bad, it
appears to be the people who are truly calling the shots, which
again adds to the reason of why NGOs are currently flourishing. The
state grows weaker as NGO grow stronger. But as the NGOs usually do
a much better job at certain things than the government; the
government relies on them quite often. It is speculated, that this
might cause a problem along the way as it forms a degenerative
pattern: the state will grow weaker and weaker until eventually it
will be the NGOs who holds true power. Or rather, to use a
different term, it will be private groups and collectives, who
determine how public policy is to be made and executed- the NGOS
grow stronger which is bad for the state in consideration,
especially if they cannot but as the state cannot perform certain
services due to certain realities they employ the help of NGOs who
happily do the job. As this continues, what was feared becomes the
reality and the government is made dumb and useless while the NGOs,
who as private interest groups often conflict with the interests of
other different groups, which at some cases have little hope of
compromise. Further study into this theory might be required and
the points made here a source of meditation.
CHAPTER III
METHODS AND PROCEDURE
Research Design
In order to provide a better understanding on this matter, this
research study on NGOs and its Participation in Policy-Making
provided a descriptive type of research in order to offer you an
overview of our research design and the methodologies. This
research utilized both descriptive and exploratory research methods
in the conduct of the study. Descriptive research is a method used
to obtain information relating to the current status of an issue or
phenomenon to describe what exists within the variables or
conditions of the situation. This allowed us to familiarize
ourselves on the concepts of the problems under study. We employed
descriptive research in order for us to support our hypotheses as
well as the significance of this study, and exploratory research as
it tries to attempt the political participation of NGOs especially
in policy-making and to political development. This allowed our
study the flexibility in conducting data gathering, research
analysis and interpretation of gathered information.
This study is a qualitative research that attempts to accumulate
existing information and data regarding on the participation in
policy-making of NGOs in the present time. The researchers used a
qualitative type of data to give details on the matters. Trochim
(2006) stated that a key reason for qualitative research is to
investigate and become more experienced with a particular
phenomenon of the researchers interests in order to deliver a
detailed description.
Sources of Data
The data that we used in this research study are primary and
secondary data. To accomplish this, we had identified the primary
data and as well as secondary data that we used in this study. The
primary data that we used are the facts that we gathered through an
interview. Existing literature reviews are our secondary type of
data. Major works from different authors were used here to verify
the data gathered and to come up with preliminary ideas regarding
the research problem. Literatures on Theories and Practices on
political contentions, as well on NGOs, are one of the secondary
data we already have. A qualitative analysis shall be included in
this section to further verify the literatures in relation with the
research problems.Gathering Procedures
The data gathering procedure that was conducted was by means of
series of research and interview. Limitations are also applicable
in our methodologies; we opt to resort by means of libraries,
online journals, books, working paper, and case study. We used
these materials in order to provide better analysis for this
research. Outside the scopes and limitations of this study will not
be subject to any forms of methods we had employed, because of the
mere fact that it is just a waste of time and effort. All the data,
facts, and information that were gathered and collected were
analyzed and studied.
Respondents
Our respondents are from Congress and Non- Government
Organizations, Kalayaan Foundation Incorporated and KABAKA
Foundation in particular. We had interviewed two representatives
from the legislative branch namely Cong. Amado S. Bagatsing of 5th
District of Manila and Cong. Bienvenido Benny M. Abante Jr. From
the side of the Non- Government Organization we have Mr. Roberto G.
Brillante Sr., president of Kalayaan Foundation Incorporated, and
Mr. Carlito Guiang, executive director of KABAKA
Foundation.Research Instrument
To achieve pertinent information, series of interviews were
conducted. On the interview, we divided it into two parts following
our conceptual frameworks; the political development and the civil
society. We asked them about the civil society, NGOs, its role in
policy-making and how they influence the policies. Selected persons
and entities selected as our sample. We selected persons who are
knowledgeable about the topic, specifically on NGOs, political
contentions, and on the state-society relations; as we aim to
determine if NGOs participation in policy-making is important in
shaping the laws. Their perspectives, views or sentiments were
evaluated and analyzed. The data that we gathered helped us in
elucidating the truth; moreover, this validated or at least
supported our statement of the problem.
CHAPTER IV
PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
Table 1. SIGNIFICANT NGO IMPACT AREAS
Public PolicyPublic Program
The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) (R.A. 8371)recognize,
protect and promote the rights of indigenous cultural communities/
indigenous people, creating a national commission on indigenous
peoples, establishing implementing mechanisms, appropriating
funds
National Integrated Protected Areas System (R.A. 7586)Integrated
social forestry, reforestation, integrated protected area systems
management, coastal resources management, wild life conservation,
patrolling and enforcement of law against illegal logging and
fishing, sloping agricultural land technology.
Antitrust Law (Senate Bill 123)Prohibition of monopolies,
attempt to monopolize an industry or line of commerce, manipulation
of prices of commodities, asset acquisition and interlocking
memberships in the board of directors of competing corporate bodies
and price discrimination among customers
Urban Development Act of 1992Development and continuing urban
development and housing program
Violence Against Women and Childrens ActProtective measures for
victims, prescribing penalties for the aged, battered children, and
women.
National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009Conservation of the
national cultural heritage, strengthening the national commission
for culture and the arts (NCCA), and its affiliated cultural
agencies, and for other purposes.
Peoples Participation in Budget Deliberations Act of
2010Participation of bona fide peoples organization (POs) and
Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in the deliberation of the
annual budget in congress and local government units (LGUs)
R.A. 9502 or Cheaper Medicine ActCheaper and quality
medicines.
R.A. 9710 or Magna Carta of Women
Elimination of discrimination against women by recognizing,
protecting, fulfilling and promoting the rights of Filipino women,
especially those in the marginalized sectors
Women in Developing and Nation-Building Act (R.A.
7192)Integration of women as full and equal partners of men in
development and nation building
Constructed by the researchers based on the interview with Cong.
Amado S. Bagatsing, Cong. Benny M. Abante, and Mr. Brillante.
As one sees in the table presented, the NGOs are involved in the
number of social issues that together encompasses almost the whole
of the Philippine problem in general. Theres a Non-Government
Organization for every problem and this has, in turn, made the NGOs
a very tangible presence in our current world. Because of this we
can also infer from the data since NGOs are such a huge influence
on some of our most deeply held issues (some rooted in the very
fundamentals of Filipino culture) the role of NGOs are unlikely to
fade anytime soon.
The table was constructed by the researchers based on the
interview and available data that were gathered in the research
study. It shows selected public policies that were being
implemented in the Philippines and the public programs that are
address by these policies. The policies presented were based on the
interviews conducted during the research study. We used these
policies to give the readers an overview on how NGOs have been an
effective actor in policy-making and how they formulate the
policies based on the advocacy they are promoting.
The table shows how NGOs can be significant actor in
policy-making. They have able to passed laws that will probably
help the needs of the people. These selected laws show that NGOs
provide for effective policies that will address the problems that
the government can barely solve by their own. Thats why the number
of Non-Government Organizations are continuously increasing and
their involvement is irrefutable.
In addition, the table shows how NGos can be useful in helping
the government address different problems and could assist in the
development of the nation. As one NGO tackles each of these issues,
the country grows one problem less strong.
Table 2.NGOs Participation in Policy-Making on the Perspective
of the Policy- Maker and the Non-Government Organization.
Policy-Maker (Cong. Amado S. Bagatsing)Non-Government
Organization-KABAKA (Mr.CarlitoGuiang)
Non-Government Organizations serve as resource person in
Congress for the formulation of policies.NGOs go to a certain
congressman and suggest or recommend some policies on a specific
area, e.g. Health, Education, Women empowerment.
Non-Government Organizations can draft their own policy and
present it to the Congress. Non-Government Organizations can
directly participate in policy-making through the party list
system.
The Policy-Maker consulted the NGOs to pursue their own
interest.NGOs go to the congress and lobby their advocacy to a
certain congressman with similar interest.
Some NGOs used to support politicians in order for them to be
appointed in office and involve themselves in policy-making.NGOs
create party list in order for them to directly participate in the
policy-making.
Constructed by the researchers based on the interview with Cong.
Amado S. Bagatsing and Mr. Carlito Guiang.
This table was constructed by the researcher based on the
interview with Cong. Amado S. Bagatsing and Mr. CarlitoGuinag.
Their insights and information that were given during their
interview were used to construct the table. KABAKA Foundation is
one of the NGOs that Congressman Bagatsing is supporting or rather
KABAKA is affiliated to the representative of the 5th District of
Manila. The researchers interview the two to better understand the
relationship of the legislative branch which is the Congress and
the Non-Government Organizations.
The participation of Non-Government Organizations in policy-
making in the perspective of these two men are significantly
important. Congressman Bagatsing and Mr. Guiang presented their
insights and opinion regarding the participation of NGOs in
policy-making with the positive thoughts. Being with the both side
of advocacy, Congressman Bagatsing and Mr. Guiang somehow presented
different thoughts on how NGOs are involve in the formulation of
policy. They have viewed NGOs participation in a different way but
it doesnt mean that their ideas are contradicting with each
other.
Because their heart belongs to the low-level of society, they
know what is best. They are far more experienced than us, thats why
usually enacted comes from a resource person which is NGOs in this
aspect, they help the government.
Congressman Amado Bagatsing is affiliated to a non-government
organization called KABAKA Foundation. The said organization was
established to help highly marginalized sector of the society like
the poor people. They help less fortunate people in the field of
education, health, burial assistance and also financial assistance.
Giving scholarships are one of their activities.
As regards to policy making, Congressman Bagatsing held that
KABAKA is not involve in the policy making directly, instead as
representative, proposals form his organization will be included in
his inputs.
Policy proposal NGOs made their spot in engaging in policy
making. There are lots of NGOs who does this style, like CHREBA, a
professional group active in housing projects and development.
Often, these groups of professionals come to their advocacies. It
is up to the congressman to adopt their proposal; congressmen only
entertain proposals that are in accordance with their own interest
and if so, there is a high probability that these proposals will be
brought to the congress for embracing these new concepts.
Specific House Bills were persecuted By Congressman Bagatsing:
Urban Development Act of 1992, Women in Developing and
Nation-Building Act, and National Integrated Projected Areas System
Act. NGOs were involved in creating such bills; their participation
is recognized by the constitution. (Bagatsing, 2011)
As the representative of 5th district of Manila, Bagatsing have
notices that they have penetrated into the political scene. Though,
Congressman Bagatsing is not generating all NGOs, some of them are
being used by politicians in exchange for a position in the
government. He sternly asserted that, NGOs should fight for their
advocacies and should not be blinded by all these temptations, a
real NGO is objective not subjective
Upon their little access to the policy making, they have merely
affected the process, even though by invitation, they sometimes put
the government into pressure especially coming from credible
NGOs.
According to Congressman Bagatsing, Non-Government Organizations
can serve as a resource person in the formulation of policies
through invitation. He discussed how NGOs participate in
policy-making and how they promote their advocacy and be included
in the policy. Non- Government Organizations can also draft their
own bill and lobby it to the Congress. He also added that the
Congressmen consulted NGOs to acquire input needed in the policy
that they need to draft in order to address the problems of their
constituents. But there is a negative thing in that, Congressman
Bagatsing said that certain congressman only consulted these NGOs
to pursue and protect their personal interest. This act of
consultation is only for acquiring the support of the people. If
there is congressman that uses NGOs for their own interest, there
are also NGOs that used to support politicians in order for them to
be appointed. The latter is a good thing because these NGOs asked
for position in order for them to engage in the drafting and
formulating policies.
From the practical view of Congressman Amado Bagatsing, NGOs and
law-makers relationship is sometimes mutual. NGOs need them or the
other way around; sometimes conflict arises between them. Not all
the time, NGOs can respond to the needs of the marginalized sector,
they represent, they sometimes fail. To know whats best, it is a
must to weigh the pros and cons. There are two things that must be
considered at this instance: when one treat it as either too
personal or different point of views.
On the side of the Non-Government Organizations, Mr. Carlito
Guiang started to present ideas by discussing how NGOs at present
be involve in the policy-making process. According to him, NGOs can
directly participate in Congress through the party-list system and
they can elect their own representative in Congress. Other NGOs
that cannot participate in the election as a party-list can suggest
or recommend some policy to a certain congressman with similar
advocacy in order for them to be heard in Congress. These
representatives serve as their voices in the Congress during the
policy formulation. He discussed how the party-list system creates
opportunities to Non-Government Organizations in the policy-making.
Unlike before, wherein there was no party-list system, NGOs were
merely an advocacy group in which they can participate in politics
through campaign, advocacy program, and support groups.
We can see how the interaction between the policy-maker and the
Non-Government Organizations happens during the formulation of
policies. The interviews show that there is a big impact on
policy-making if these NGOs participate in policy-making.
Congressman Bagatsing and Mr. Guiang have similar standpoint on how
and why NGOs engage in policy-making and their importance in the
policy being implemented.
Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) are indispensable actor in
policy-making because they are the one who can oversee the problems
of the community. The state cannot deny the fact that these NGOs
really help them in solving the primary problem of the government.
By engaging in the formulation of policies, NGOs can voice out the
grievances of the people in Congress. As what we can see in the
present situation, the government and the private sector help each
other to provide effective programs for the people.
Table 3. Laws that were passed with the help of Non- Government
OrganizationsLAWSDESCRIPTIONDATE OF PROPOSALDATE
PASSED/ENACTMENTNGOs INVOLVED
1. Antitrust Law (Senate Bill 123)An Act prohibiting monopolies,
attempt to monopolize an industry or line of commerce, manipulation
of prices of commodities, asset acquisition and interlocking
memberships in the board of directors of competing corporate bodies
and price discrimination among customers, providing penalties
therefor, and for other purposes.June 30, 2007April 29, 2009
2. Urban Development Act of 1992 (R.A. 7271)An Act to provide
for a comprehensive and continuing urban development and continuing
urban development and housing program, establish the mechanism for
its implementation, and for other purposes. July 22, 1991March 24,
1992GawadKalinga (GK) and Habitat for Humanity (HfH)
3. Women in Developing and Nation-Building Act (R.A. 7192)An Act
promoting the integration of women as full and equal partners of
men in development and nation building and for other
purposes.February 12, 1992GABRIELA Womens Party
4. National Integrated Protected Areas System Act (R.A. 7586)An
Act providing for the establishment and management of national
integrated protected areas system, defining its scope and scope and
coverage, and for other purposes.July 22, 1991June 1,
1992Haribon
5. THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS ACT (IPRA) (R.A. 8371)An Act to
recognize, protect and promote the rights of indigenous cultural
communities/ indigenous people, creating a national commission on
indigenous peoples, establishing implementing mechanisms,
appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes.July 28,
1997October 29, 1997PAFID, Anthrowatch, Assisi Foundation, and
Mangyan Mission, Inc.
6. R.A. 9502 Cheaper Medicine ActAn Act providing for cheaper
and quality medicines, amending for the purpose Republic Act No.
8293 or the Intellectual Property Code, Republic Act No. 6675 or
the Generics Acts of 1988, and Republic Act No. 5921 or the
Pharmacy Law, and for other purposes. September 4, 2007June 6,
2008
7. R.A. 9710 Magna Carta of Women
The Magna Carta of Women is a comprehensive women's human rights
law that seeks to eliminate discrimination against women by
recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and promoting the rights of
Filipino women, especially those in the marginalized sectors.July
28, 2008August 14, 2009GABRIELA
8. National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009An Act providing for
the protection and conservation of the national cultural heritage,
strengthening the national commission for culture and the arts
(NCCA), and its affiliated cultural agencies, and for other
purposes.July 27, 2009March 26, 2010Henares of the Heritage
Conservation Society
9. Peoples Participation in Budget Deliberations Act of 2010 An
Act institutionalizing the participation of bona fide peoples
organization (POs) and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in the
deliberation of the annual budget in congress and local government
units (LGUs), providing effective mechanisms therefor, and for
other purposes.September 20, 2010June 1, 2011
(Consolidated/Substituted in the Committee Report)Alternative
Budget Initiative (ABI)
10. VAWC (RA 9262)An Act defining violence against women and
their children, providing for protective measures for victims,
prescribing penalties therefore, and for other purposes. July 28,
2003March 8, 2004GABRIELA, FILIPINA
Constructed by the researchers based on the interview with Cong.
Amado S. Bagatsing, Cong. Benny M. Abante, and Mr. Brillante.
Given the information above, the researchers have assessed the
data to be of relevant in arriving into conclusion. Taken their
advantages in the participation of policy making, researchers have
analyzed that they have been a significant contributor in the law
making. Evident in the existing data gathered, it shows that bills
were passed together with the help of different NGOs such as the
Women in drafting the VAWC and Magna Carta of Women. The
aforementioned statements show that they have an indispensable part
in creating public policies. These data illustrate how the
relationship of the NGOs and the government are somehow mutual
because of their common interests. Furthermore, at present, the
bills have proven to be effective in promoting social welfare,
justice, protection and alleviating issues of the society.
For policy- making, according to Brillante (2011), you can only
do policy research and then make recommendations and submit papers
to the agency concerned. But NGOs can participate to the
policy-making to the extent that they can only distribute papers,
suggestion and mass action (rally) to let the government identify
our grievances. NGOs are not directly involved in the process, they
are outside the means of the government system. They can only
recommend on how a government should be ran, especially if they see
the government doing wrong things.
Brillante (2011) considers NGOs as significant political actors,
because he sees that there is an enlightment among Filipinos this
is another reason why there is such an increase of NGO
proliferation. With the prominence of NGO, encouragement and
leadership among Filipinos are prevailing, taking upon themselves
to pursue the interest of the people, notwithstanding the
diverseness there is unity in action in order to advance and
protect the interest of the many as against the few.
The bottom-line of this interview, Brillante (2011) assessed
NGOs as beneficial. Not only in proposal are NGOs do well in
policy-making but also in the implementation. More and more
congressman are now watching their backs. NGOs credibility is often
looked on how they execute their advocacies. NGOs serve as
watchers; they are watching the government, just like putting them
in their glass house.
The staggering number of laws passed despite the Philippine
legislative notoriously slow process, one can see that NGOs, or
rather their assistance is indeed a very significant factor in the
process of policy-making. Their support can be a determining even
quantifiable factor in whether or not a bill gets passed or not.
While this is good for certain concerns, the predictability of
human nature that is introduced into the law-making process by the
NGOs could be the cause of the problems. One can also see that most
of the laws passed are of civil matter and are related to social
concerns rather than political. It reflects the NGOs spirit as the
embodiment of the peoples interest.
CHAPTER VSUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
Summary
NGOs are influential part of the modern politics and society.
Serving advocates, middlemen, pressure groups, and partly
government watchdogs- they have the power to make the varying
interests of the people known to the government.
However, due to the already weak nature of the Philippine
government the NGOs and other civil organizations have risen to a
position of power that has rewritten modern political dynamics.
NGOs, now armed with funding and popular support now have to
dictate what policy should be pressuring officials and offering
assistance making deeds to streamline formed polices white
constricting those which are not favored. They have risen beyond
mere interest groups and government helpers to become (collectively
speaking) one of the most powerful and kingmaking political factors
that must and deserves consideration.
Whether or not this will result in a favorable outcome is yet to
be seen. It is highly recommended that this assertion that NGOs
have grown to such power be checked and possibly even contested
with the purpose of falsification. But if findings to align with
those of this paper then the state misjudged to be in a difficult
situation, though does not necessarily need to be a bad thing for
the Filipino people, nay, there are certain parts in the findings
that point to some benefits fot them, while the state suffers a
deterioration of power. The findings are interesting, but as this
perceived pattern is rather new it is still only in its theoretical
stage and shoul be experienced on by future researcher delivering
into the subject.Recommendation
The research has noticed a pattern which is believed to deserve
some attention. As NGOs grow more and more in numbers and in
influence as the years go by, the state grows weaker in comparison;
this effect, is confounded by the fact that is the state itself
that makes and allows these NGOs to grow to such power and the sad
fact that the Philippine state is already weak to the point where
if it did not rely on the assistance offered by these NGOs-theyd be
unable to do much of anything nay, some projects may even be
impossible to execute without their help due the governments lack
of resources. Ultimately, this could cause the state to dwindle to
a state of lameness.
Further studies into the verification of this pattern are
suggested. As well as studies to counter it if deemed necessary or
to speed it effects if proven to be beneficial to the overall good
of the nation.
On the part of the students and researchers who wish to conduct
the same research study, they may further research on this topic.
Students should identify what specific type of NGOs their study
will focus on.
And lastly, the government should provide a law that will
identify to what extent or limitations can Non- Government
Organizations intervene in the process of policy-making.
Conclusion
After a series of research and interviews that have been
conducted and the data that were gathered that will support our
hypothesis, the researchers arrive into conclusions that:
Non-Government Organizations have been significant and
influential actor in Philippine policy-making.
Non-Government Organizations partake of a constructive critic in
our political scenery by engaging in the formulation of policies.
Non-Government Organizations have become indispensable to the
modern government. While Non-Government Organizations grows in
power; the state grows weaker in relation.
Non-Government Organizations, in reality, had much more
influence than earlier presumed and imagined. Theyre also
unbelievably active in the legislative process and are involved
even in its implantation and adjustment stages. They also serve as
constructive input provider for the law-makers in virtue of the
NGOs usually specializing in a single area of expertise. Their
criticisms and advice regarding certain matters are very important
for laws to be called well-thought and informed-which of course in
turn reflects well upon the legislator and the assisting NGO. Their
involvement in the government, despite their alleged nature being
supposed apolitical, has made the NGOs indispensable and their
presence necessary for the current government to continue with
their projects due to lack of resources which the NGOs handily
provide. However; this reliance of the public government upon the
private NGOs has caused an effect comparable to the ingesting of a
poison that builds up in the body and slowly kills it while
providing some temporary relief: the state grows weaker and
steadily loses its ability to support itself as its reliance on NGO
assistance grows, which could prove disastrous if left
unchecked
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