Lydia Sarmiento-Enrile

1
Birthing Pains Philippine Council for NGO
Certification (PCNC)
Leadership Role of Associations in Promoting
Standards and Self-Regulation

• Lydia Sarmiento-Enrile
• Chairman, Sarmiento Foundation
• Former President, Association of Foundations
  League of Corporate Foundations

2
The Philippine Context

• Unprecedented proliferation of NP given new
  democratic space
• No accountability mechanism for NGO
• Question of legitimacy for some NGOs being used
  by politicians
• Growing awareness and need for accountability and
  transparency in the non-profit sector
• Deteriorating economic performance of the country
  

Challenge The Department of Finance then
challenged the NGO community to put up a
mechanism to determine which NGOs deserve the
donee institution status.
3
LCF PBSP conducted 1995-1996 Series of
consultations among supporting organizations Serie
s of negotiations with government specifically
DOF and BIR 1997 Registration of PCNC with our
SEC as private, non-stock, non-profit corporation
with six network organization 1998 Registration
of PCNC with BIR
Process
4
Over 1,000 organizations Improved credibility of
the NP sector among donors 1995-1996 Series of
consultations among supporting organizations Serie
s of negotiations with government specifically
DOF and BIR 1997 Registration of PCNC with our
SEC as private, non-stock, non-profit corporation
with six network organization 1998 Registration
of PCNC with BIR
Results
5
Organizations Involved

1. Association of Foundations (AF)
2. Bishops-Businessmens Conference for Human
   Development
3. Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO)
4. League of Corporate Foundations (LCF)
5. National Council for Social Development
   Foundations
6. Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)

6

• Improved credibility of the nonprofit sector
  among donors, the public within the sector
• Seal of good housekeeping
• Self-assessment for NGOs
• Over 1,000 organizations certified
• Increased collaboration with other professional
  organizations such as accountants auditors
• Developed a pool of volunteer evaluators

Results
7
Lessons Learned

• Collaboration is possible around shared/common
  issues

• Open communication consultation is critical

• Public sector can be open to power sharing

• Cordial relationships among organizations is a
  facilitating factor