PB eyes review of all NGOs

CEBU, Philippines - Vice Governor Agnes Magpale is eyeing the review of all accredited people’s organizations (POs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) in the Province of Cebu following reports of bogus organizations who took huge amount of funds from the lawmakers.

However, Magpale said that the Province of Cebu has really been very careful in giving financial assistance to NGOs after the controversial Perdido Lex in 2002 which tagged former vice governor John Henry Gregory Osmeña for alleged misused of P5 million.

The Provincial Board of Cebu effected the infamous accreditation of the non-existent Perdido Lex via Resolution No. 3968-2002.

Magpale said that the review is aimed at having more safety nets in accrediting any organizations.

Accredited organizations have their accreditation renewed yearly and the PB asked the officials to appear before the plenary for further questioning before it gets renewal.

“Duna gyuy interview, tan-awon gyud ang track record,” Magpale said.

PB Member Joven Mondigo Jr. who previously chaired the committee on accreditation said that after the Perdido Lex controversy, application for accreditation passed through rigid screening of documentary requirements such as the registration of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Once accredited, Mondigo said that the organizations cannot just easily get financial assistance from the Capitol as it passes through another requirement of having a memorandum of agreement.

The PB has to authorize the Governor to enter and sign the agreement of a particular organization requesting the financial assistance.

Mondigo said that they have accredited a lot of NGOs not necessarily to access financial assistance.

“Hasol gyud hinoon, maong ang uban magpa-accredit para lang seguro nga accredited sila sa provincial government,” Mondigo told The Freeman.

Mondigo added it has also been the practice of the provincial government that financial assistance for NGOs is coursed through the local government.  (FREEMAN)