DSWD, NGOs vow to fight corruption

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) has sealed a budget partnership agreement (BPA) with nine non-government organizations (NGOs) to enhance transparency in the agency’s projects and guard against corruption.

Under the BPA, the NGOs will participate in the budget preparation of the DSWD-NCR and provide data on the needs of their ongoing projects.

The nine NGOs – all accredited with the DSWD – that signed the agreement are Live for Others Movement Inc.; Center for Popular Empowerment (CPE); KBCF Operation Paglingap Foundation; Unang Hakbang Foundation Inc; I am Redeemer and Master of Evangelical Ministries; Mandaluyong City Federation of senior citizens Association (MACFESCA); People Power Volunteers Reform (PPVR), Partnership for Integrated Services & Social Devt (i-SERVE), and Moral Recovery and Chaplaincy Organizational Movement.

The government earlier banned the awarding of pork barrel projects to NGOs following the scandal involving the foundations and NGOs of alleged pork barrel scam queen Janet Lim-Napoles in 2013.

The ban was lifted after the DSWD, the Department of Budget and Management and the Commission on Audit laid down guidelines and qualifications for NGOs that can implement government-funded projects.