State body to regulate NGOs sought

House of Representatives. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A bill has been filed in Congress seeking the creation of a state committee to regulate nongovernment organizations (NGOs) amid a widening pork barrel scam in which fake foundations were used to siphon off money from the Priority Development Assistance Fund and Disbursement Acceleration Program.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Abamin Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. filed House Bill No. 3938 creating a National Commission on NGOs  under the Office of the President with a seed money of P50 million.

In a phone interview, Rufus said he decided to file the bill anew due to the urgency of clamping down on fake NGOs that have infiltrated the estimated 60,000 nonprofit foundations in the country.

“This bill seeks to promote professionalism, accountability and transparency among NGOs and prevent the fly-by-night NGOs or other organizations established solely for the benefit and self-interest of individuals or groups under the guise of social development,” he said. Gil C. Cabacungan

RELATED STORIES

Return pork, 4 solons told

97 checks worth P900M issued to 12 Napoles NGOs in just 3 days

Janet Napoles and the pork barrel scam