Strategic options for Angat Buhay NGO to forestall conflict with LGUs

On top of unlimited funds and an army of trolls on social media, the incoming administration won with only one word — unity — as a slogan. Even though they snubbed public debates, President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and incoming Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio won hands down as per the Commission on Elections count. Yet the two did not expound on how they would unite the country, which is now more divided than ever. They also did not bother to discuss the granularities of their platform of government but painted these only in broad strokes. Thus, there are many gray areas on how they would run a country saddled with unprecedented socioeconomic and environmental problems.

Meanwhile, political dynasties have gained more traction in local government units (LGUs) and Congress, with many of their candidates victorious in the last elections. This means they can exercise more clout in the passage of their pet bills and in dispensing justice. Add to this advantage their ownership of or connection to big businesses involved in government projects.

Aware of this backdrop, Vice President Leni Robredo will launch the countrywide Angat Buhay NGO, which will work with and for Filipinos from all socioeconomic classes on six core areas: food security and nutrition, universal health care, public education, rural development, housing and resettlement, and women empowerment. This initiative, which seemingly rivals government efforts in socioeconomic development, is untried anywhere else in the world.

And yet, the collaboration between government and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) at the national and LGU levels is nothing new and is seen as a strategy to expedite project development and management. Over the years, thousands of memoranda of agreement (MOAs) and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) have been signed between NGOs and LGUs or government agencies.

But this working agreement established through an MOA or MOU is seldom done on a full scale, particularly at the LGU level. There is a limit to what LGUs can provide or support. It is implicit that there must be no threat to the long-time hold on the political power of key elected local officials, like governors and mayors. Their chances for reelection must not be jeopardized. This conditionality is one reason programs or projects promoting equality, inclusion, and justice are calibrated to avoid displeasing the powers that be. Obviously, the results do not go beyond the output level (training conducted, school buildings constructed, etc.). Nothing is achieved at the outcome or impact level. The desired long-term results (improved health, improved quality of education, increased disposable income, etc.) often remain as aspirations.

To put it differently, the LGUs can easily hijack the Angat Buhay NGO not long after its launching. They can bully the barangay councils to prevent them from working with and providing support to this NGO. Going against the LGUs will strain relationships and jeopardize the release of funds. And the Angat Buhay NGO staff can fall victim to disinformation, Red-tagging, and so on.

To forestall these eventualities, the Angat Buhay NGO must consider the following strategic options at the proper time. (This list is not in any particular order):

Exist within the ambit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations;

Conduct strategic planning or SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats);

Mobilize volunteers (“Kakampinks”) for various work according to their capabilities and motivations;

Add building alliances to the six core areas;

Sign MOAs and MOUs with the central offices of government agencies;

Coalesce with like-minded NGOs and utilize lessons they’ve learned and their good practices;

Design and implement SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-bound) programs with all stakeholders, particularly the poor;

Make an inventory of past and ongoing national- and LGU-level agreements;

Conduct specialized community organizing aimed at fighting off trolls;

Secure the trust and confidence of foreign governments, development organizations, and funding agencies;

Fill social media platforms with Angat Buhay NGO content on a sustained basis;

Make use of VP Leni’s and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan’s proposed platform of government, and;

Adopt and adapt past program proposals aligned with the SDGs of other NGOs.

NONO FELIX
felixnono9@gmail.com

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