Guingona bill seeks tighter vetting of NGOs

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines–Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III wants nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs) working with the government to be accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and to be subjected to a government audit.

Guingona has filed a bill designating the DSWD as the central accrediting agency for NGOs and POs handling government projects, following findings by the Senate blue ribbon committee that bogus NGOs were involved in the misuse of lawmakers’ pork barrel funds.

The DSWD would be tasked with certifying the authenticity and capacity of the various organizations to participate in the implementation of government programs.

Guingona, blue ribbon panel chair, said the groups must also be scrutinized by the Commission on Audit, since the funds they would be receiving will retain their character as public funds.

The bill seeks to ensure that only legitimate reliable groups will be undertaking public service projects with the government.

“The passage of this bill will enhance transparency, accountability and good governance in the allocation and utilization of public funds by ensuring that only legitimate entities that have good reputations for integrity, established track records and proven contributions to the betterment of society would be able to participate in government projects,” Guingona said in his explanatory note to the measure.

Under the bill, NGOs and POs wishing to implement publicly funded programs must pay an accreditation fee and must meet set criteria, including on its legitimacy, successful track record and being free of conflict of interest or nepotism issues in connection with the projects they wish to undertake.

They could join only programs or projects that are beyond the capability of government organizations to undertake.

Details on the projects they will implement using government funds must also be posted on the websites of government organizations, the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System and the NGOs or POs, if they have one.

The NGOs and POs will also be required to submit monthly fund utilization reports, which will be made public.

The groups that violate the requirements will face penalties ranging from suspension or revocation of accreditation, and disqualification from obtaining projects from government organizations, without prejudice to the civil and criminal liabilities of its officers and personnel.