PHILSSA - The Social Development Code Of Ethics, The Founding Principles Of Philssa

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Preamble

Bearing in mind that the right to development is an inherent, inalienable and universal human right granted by the Creator and upheld by the community of nations in the UN Declaration on the Right to Development, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

Aware that the Philippine Government is a signatory to these laws and international instruments and that consistent with these, the Philippine Constitution and the Civil Code recognize the need to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction as to age, race, color, gender, language, religion, political belief, class or social status;

Mindful that by virtue of the Philippine Government’s vote for the UN Declaration on the Right to Development and the ratification of the 1987 Constitution and the trust reposed in it by the people, the State has the primary responsibility for providing the conditions favorable to national development;

Concerned that the nation still finds itself confronted with serious obstacles to development;

Aware of the broad people’s initiatives, through organizations, to respond to the challenges of development and change;

We, the Philippine Development NON-governmental Organizations (NGOs) therefore proclaim this Covenant on Philippine Development to unite us in a common effort to promote, protect and assert the right to development of the people.

Part I Development Principles:

We stand by the following fundamental principles of development:

The primary goal of development is the satisfaction of the basic needs of the broad majority of the people.
Development should be integrated and holistic, taking into account both the material and non-material needs of individuals and communities.,
The people are the primary force of development. Development should lead to full participation of women, youth and all other vulnerable sectors in all facets of national life.
The people are the primary beneficiary of development. Government policies and programs should be geared toward the enhancement of their potentials and well-being and ensure the equitable distribution of wealth, power and access to resources.
Development should ensure a harmonious relationship between people and their natural environment. Development should be an exercise of responsible utilization and stewardship of natural wealth and resources benefiting present and future generations.
Development requires recognition and enhancement of religious and cultural diversity in Philippine society.
In the pursuit of the desired goal of development, the cooperative spirit should prevail.
Development involves cooperation among peoples of different nations on the basis of peaceful coexistence and respect for each nation’s sovereignty and national integrity

Part II Goals For Philippine Development:

Philippine development is predicated on the attainment of the following goals:

THE PRESERVATION OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY

Categorical rejection of all forms of foreign intervention in the nation's affairs and impositions of multilateral institutions and foreign governments contrary to the national interest.
Critical engagement with global market that opens further avenues for genuine national economic development. Rejection of all trade agreements and economic arrangements that compromise the interests of the poor and the marginalized.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION/CONSERVATION

Effective implementation of a strategic education and information campaign on environmental protection and conservation.
Strict enforcement of environmental laws, prohibition of environmentally destructive practices, continuing ecological research and community-based resource management.

EQUITABLE ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND EMPLOYMENT GENERATION

Protection of ancestral domain, implementation of genuine agrarian, aquatic and urban land reform and sustainable industrialization.
Creation of opportunities for gainful employment and continuing improvements upon the skills of the country's labor force
Promotion of labor security and just compensation.

EFFECTIVE, DEMOCRATIC AND PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE

Promotion of accountability, transparency and efficiency among public officials.
Effective provision of basic services to the people particularly in the areas of healthcare, education, shelter and information.
Institutionalization of mechanisms for meaningful participation of NGOs and POs in decision-making with regard to development policies and programs and their enforcement.
Full implementation of local autonomy and decentralization.

THE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF ALL ARMED CONFLICTS

The peaceful and democratic resolution of all armed conflicts based on critical examination of the roots of the problems.
Promotion of dialogue and consensus-building among all armed groups.

THE SAFEGUARDING OF FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS

The safeguarding of fundamental freedoms and human rights as enshrined in the Philippine Constitution, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and all other international documents to which the Philippine Government is signatory to, particularly those concerning women, children and other vulnerable groups.

FOSTERING A CULTURE OF INVOLVEMENT

Growth of an informed citizenry involved in national and local issues and committed to democratic reform and addressing the problems of injustice, poverty, and marginalization.
Cultivation of commitment to and compassion for the poor and the marginalized and a spirit of service and volunteerism in the pursuit of development work.

FOSTERING INDIGENOUS CULTURES

Recognition, respect and protection of the right of all indigenous peoples to self-determination.
Advancement of people's traditions and indigenous knowledge, skills and practices.
Initiating of avenues and opportunities for the preservation and creative flourishing of indigenous and Filipino culture.

Part III Responsibilities of Development NGOs:

Consistent with the development principles and the pursuit of our development goals, we shall maintain the soundness and integrity of our organizations by ensuring that:

Our organizations serve clear development objectives consistent with our vision-mission and understood by all our board members, staff and partners.
We acknowledge accountability to our various publics and stakeholders. We shall manage our organizations with the highest competence, integrity and professionalism, making full and responsible use of our resources. We will ensure that our governance structures are designed to facilitate the implementation of our objectives and that mechanisms these are not compromised by conflicting interests.

Specifically, each of our organizations will ensure:

That the composition of its highest governing body is in accord with criteria set under the organization’s by-laws, and that the members of this body serve limited terms of office
That this body holds regular meetings and elections of officers in accordance with the organization’s by-laws
That this body is involved in policy and program formulation, thereby giving the organization necessary guidance and assistance
That regular policy reviews are conducted-involving both board and staff; that such reviews become occasions for candid and fruitful discussion, and therefore instruments for strengthening the organization and its development interventions
That there are clearly stated policies on conflicts of interest that cover members of the governing body, members of the staff, and volunteers (if any)
That there are regular meetings between the chief executive officer and the staff; and that such meetings facilitate fruitful communication among all program implementers and effective program implementation.
That our performance indicators, time tables, financial plans and systems for monitoring, evaluation and documentation are established, clearly defined and implemented.

We will ensure that our financial policies, systems and practices comply with existing laws, generally accepted accounting principles, and agreements reached with our donors and fund sources. We shall also endeavor to grow as financially sustainable organizations, utilizing resource generation strategies that are consistent with development values, and with our organization’ vision-mission-goal statements.

To remain relevant and responsive amid constantly changing environments, we shall endeavor to:

Periodically analyze the socio-political environment on the global and local levels to discern implications for development work
Strive to infuse into our work at the community level an understanding of the wider contexts in which we move; and to strive to constantly relate our interventions with the endeavors of other groups who share similar values and development principles in the areas where we operate (Reform Measure #2 in Manifesto)
Continually root our work in the principles and praxis of community organizing, such that our interventions remain responsive to the needs and problems of the constituencies we work with (#3 in Manifesto)
Work in increasing collaboration with fellow NGOs and POs, GOs and other stakeholders, promoting dialogue and consensus building, so as to widen the reach, eliminate overlaps and competition and, in the process, increase the impact of our efforts in behalf of the marginalized (#3 in Manifesto)
Continue to innovate programs and projects that immediately and strategically address the needs of the poor, building upon past experiences, successes and current initiatives of fellow NGOs and POs in different parts of the country (#4 in Manifesto)
Strive to acquire the necessary competencies [appropriate knowledge and necessary skills as well as to improve attitudes and habits] that will imbue our interventions with increasing relevance and impact (#7 in Manifesto)
Reinvent our roles, organizational structures and processes, attitudes and modes of intervention in response to the demands of change and always in the context of reaffirming, strengthening and promoting the core values and principles espoused by this Covenant. Strive to create venues for serious reflection on the role, identity and direction of NGOs in particular conjunctures.
Continue to look for ways to encourage among the young and among members of different professions an interest and a commitment to development work, so as to harness fresh energies, new perspectives and relevant competencies for the challenges that lie ahead. Continue as well, to nurture "successor generations" – leaders from the NGO/PO community who will keep both the principles and practice of development work alive and flourishing across generations.

To help the CAUCUS OF DEVELOPMENT NGO NETWORKS (CODE-NGO) sustain its vital work of consensus-building, innovation, leadership and advocacy — both within the NGO community and outside it, within policy-making circles as well as the larger community of the general public — we shall:

Strive to align our programs to achieve the goals and objectives that we have set for this network.
Demonstrate our accountability by regularly submitting annual and financial reports, organizational profiles and other information that may be required of us to help CODE-NGO develop a comprehensive and current perspective of development work.
Actively participate in CODE-NGO activities and, wherever it is within our capacity, initiate these activities in our respective areas.
Regularly contribute resources to enable CODE-NGO to continuously serve our needs as members and serve as a catalyst and leading light in the NGO community.
Strengthen and improve decision-making processes and consensus building mechanisms within the network.

In relation to our STAFF, we shall:

Design human resource development programs that emphasize both skills and development values and that give attention to the issues faced by development practitioners as they grow in their profession.
Earmark at least 2% of yearly operational budget for human resource development.
Adopt gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory practices in dealing with our staff.
Provide just compensation and benefits to promote their welfare.
Encourage a lifestyle consistent with our solidarity with the poor communities we serve.

In relation to the COMMUNITIES we work with, we shall:

Protect and enhance the integrity and autonomy of People's Organizations (POs).
Respect and enhance local culture, structures and initiatives.
Provide access to all forms of relevant information and appropriate technology.
Promote democratic, participative and shared leadership in the community.
Facilitate linkages and cooperation among POs and communities and among POs with LGUs, funding agencies and other support mechanisms.
Raise experiences in program implementation to the level of policy recommendation.

In relation to our partner FUNDING AGENCIES, we shall:

Nurture transparency, mutual respect and mutual accountability with our partners.
Request partner agencies to share and clarify their development framework, areas of priority, procedures.
Agree upon the parameters of success through evaluations that are participatory in nature.
Strive to diversify partners so that our organizations do not become mere extension of particular funding agencies.

In relation to GOVERNMENT, we shall:

Strive to create an atmosphere of openness and mutual respect based on the perspective that people's organizations and non-government organizations perform an important role in a democratic society.
Coordinate on a selective and critical basis with the different branches of government with the aim of promoting further the interests of our partner people's organizations.
Foster continuing dialogue especially in areas and programs where both GOs and NGOs are involved.
Insist on setting common or complementing objectives and methodologies for specific projects, while maintaining the autonomy of NGOs.
Act as fiscalizers of the government especially in relation to the implementation of policies and programs and the performance of government officials in which we are involved.
Strive to deal with government in more creative and strategic ways:

- Direct our advocacy efforts toward obtaining policies that will promote strategic reforms.
- Find ways to direct public resources to where they are more appropriately suited.
- Formulate and propose concrete alternatives to policies and programs that we find inimical to the interests of the poor and marginalized.
- Whenever it will be of benefit to our partner communities and increase our leverage for negotiation, offer our services in performing some of government's functions (such as preparing policy papers, facilitating discussions and decision-making processes, conducting surveys, and implementing projects). However, we must consciously guard against losing our autonomy in the process.
- Demand on mechanisms/structures that provide venues for continuing discussion

Part IV Our Urgent Calls and Challenges:

We call on the Philippine development NGO community to adhere to the principles, goals, and provisions embodied in this Covenant.
We challenge the Philippine Government to respect this Covenant and use this as basis for relating with the development NGO community.
We urge the government and the armed groups to respect the neutrality and unhampered rights of NGOs in the performance of their work.
We call on foreign governments and multi-lateral agencies to demonstrate their commitment to development by using the Covenant and the United Nations' Declaration on the Right to Development as the general framework for development assistance to the Philippines.

Part V Ratification of the Covenant:

This Covenant shall enter into force upon its ratification by a General Assembly of Philippine Development NGOs.
Philippine Development NGOs may propose amendments to this Covenant. Amendments shall come into force after they are approved by the majority of Philippine Development NGOs in a General Assembly.
The General Assembly of Philippine Development NGOs shall establish the appropriate mechanisms to ensure the enforceability of this Covenant.

Organizational And Management Sructure

Meet the PHILSSA Staff