POLITICS & CIVIL SOCIETY:The role of the NGOs & Political Parties:

Local Networking

by : Concepcion “Chit” AsisRegional Chairperson

People Power Volunteers for Reforms - CARAGA

May 5, 2011Pasig City

1

Democratic society

CIVIL SOCIETY CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZEDORGANIZED

MARKET / MARKET / FREE & FAIRFREE & FAIR

2

Democracy is Representative and Participatory

Elected OfficialsPresident

Vice –Pres.Senators /

CongressmanGovernors /Board

Mayors / CouncilorsBrgy.Captain/

councilors

3

Market = Free but fair in trade & services

Nat’l resources

4

Civil Society Leaders / Association

5

Civil Society = space for participation

6

GOVERNANCE : is for & by all “the exercise of economics, political & administrative

authority to manage country affairs at all levels.” comprises mechanisms, processes and institution through

which citizens and groups articulate their interest, exercise their legal rights, meet their obligations and mediate their differences.

7

GOOD GOVERNANCE participatory, transparent and accountable;

effective and equitable promotes the rules of law ensures that political, social and economic priorities

are based on good consensus in society voices of the poorest and the most vulnerable are

heard in decision –making, over the allocation of development resources.Governance 3 legs : Economic, Political and

Administrative

8

People Power Volunteers for Reform(PPVR-CARAGA) : a civil society movement

“a network of autonomous association that is “rights” bearing, and responsibility –laden citizens that are voluntarily created to address common problems, advance shared interest, and promote collective aspiration (civicus, civil society at the millennium, 1999)

Civil Society

informed citizens Unity/ common

cause & thought voluntary

association

Citizens (are the building blocks of CSO )

glued by values = change / reforms

clear geographic scope critical mass of associational

density

CIVIL SOCIETY REFORM CONSTITUENCY

[Rocamora, J- “Looking backwards, Moving forward Workshop,” Soliman 2009]

Reform constituencies arise from NGOs/POs with long history of activism and engagements in a wide-range of national and local issues. Ex: H.R. anti-corruption, economic reforms, etc.

Middle class has become central to CSO specially professionals and technocrats in government and corporations; they provide policy directions, strategies and leadership

CIVIL SOCIETY REFORM CONSTITUENCY

[Rocamora, J- “Looking backwards, Moving forward Workshop,” Soliman 2009]

Civil society “technocrat-activist” help craft “people’s agenda” currently known as PNoy’s “social contract”

Civil society’s challenge is to introduce/promote reforms into a “political party discourse that historically has been devoid of reforms. Crossing-over and getting it done

CIVIL SOCIETY and Pnoy’s campaign[Villacorta, W., “Pnoy Triumph of a Peoples

Campaign]

Spontaneous show of love and sympathy for President Cory – “debt of gratitude of a grateful people” – continuity of the work of Ninoy and Cory

Convergence of events: anti-GMA and Villar, more of the same, & PNoy for Change; revival of the EDSA 1 & 2 spirit; broad-based support

CIVIL SOCIETY and Pnoy’s campaign[Villacorta, W., “Pnoy Triumph of a Peoples

Campaign]

non-conventional campaign to: “encourage, facilitate & coordinate diverse & largely autonomous campaign initiatives of volunteer groups all over the country; to provide a link to PNoy’scampaign; synergize the activities of various volunteer groups.

People Power Center

Success And Failures: What Now Election results – the PNoy-Binay; the MAR

campaign & “Reformar”; the LP Pockets of success – many CSOs were organized-

CARAGA & Zamboanga City; Cebu & Panay Island – Iloilo City.

Rekindled citizens’ hope for change and high level of anticipation

Challenge to deliver on the “ Social Contract” The role of the PPVR

CIVIL society : comparison with political parties/ political Org.

CIVIL SOCIETY POLITICAL PARTIES

1. Accountability Participation of citizens

Representation of citizens

2. Source of power

Trust / Purity of purpose capability/social capital

Election / mandate / political capital

3. Accountability To stakeholders To constituents

4. Organization Autonomous & Flexible

Structures laws/ Rules

5. Decision making

Consensus / principled leaders

6. Advantage “Hand on” Real- world Top Level

7. Communication Open/ direct exchange

Channel / filters

8. Political action & reform

Support/advocacy/lobby

Direct executive/ parliamentary

9Chit Asis, PPVRGARAGA, 2011

FRAMEWORK for NGO’s/PO’s/CSO local networking with Political Parties

Local PoliticalParties and politicians

Local PoliticalParties and politicians

Tensionsdiverse opposing Interests &

conflicts

Tensionsdiverse opposing Interests &

conflicts

NGO’s/PO’sCSO

NGO’s/PO’sCSO

Personal interests & class& business

Platforms/reforms for elections

Engagement: -Credible leaders

- trust confidence building-Focus to common issues

-As time for change

Engagement: -Credible leaders

- trust confidence building-Focus to common issues

-As time for change

Alliance/Unity-mutual respect

-organizational independence-flexibility

-inclusivenessOpen/transparency/fair dealings

Alliance/Unity-mutual respect

-organizational independence-flexibility

-inclusivenessOpen/transparency/fair dealings

Middle classChurch/ business

basic sectors

Advocacies/causes/agenda for reforms

Comprom

ise

Negotiate

Accomm

odate

Compro

mise

Negotiate

Accom

modate

Chit Asis, PPVRGARAGA, 2011

References

Villacorta, Wilfrido V., “Noynoy triumph of a People’s Campaign” Anvil, Manila, 2011.

Kasuya, Y. &Quimpo, N., “The Politics of Change in the Philippines, Anvil, Manila, 2010.

Thank you