The government has issued a set of guidelines on the accreditation of
organizations and sectoral representatives to the National Anti-Poverty
Commission (NAPC).
"The guidelines were formulated by 29 NAPC partner agencies following
Administrative Order (AO) 187, which was signed by President Arroyo in
July 2007. The guidelines seek to ensure the accountability of
sectoral representatives and make the process of selecting them more
inclusive, unified and cohesive," NAPC Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban said.
Among the basic requirements for the accreditation of organizations
represented in NAPC are government registrations, and the completion of
various reviews and evaluations which will be undertaken by NAPC partner
agencies with the incumbent council members.
As mandated by Republic Act 8425, some 14 of the country's poor and
vulnerable basic sectors are represented in NAPC.
These are farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, children, youth and
students, senior citizens, victims of disasters, persons with
disabilities, women, the urban poor, workers in the formal sector and migrant
workers, workers in the informal sector, cooperatives and non-government
organizations.
Mr. Sem Cordial, officer-in-charge of the NAPC Basic Sector Unit, said
the accreditation process will be undertaken along two tracks.
"At the local level, organizations must undergo a pre-qualification
procedure administered by the regional offices of NAPC partner agencies.
Five representatives will be elected after the pre-qualification process," he said.
He said that at the national level, organizations must apply through
the concerned NAPC partner agencies. "NAPC will then recommend them
for accreditation by the Office of the President," Cordial added.
"Accredited representatives at both the national and local levels
will then constitute the Sectoral General Assembly, which will then define
the sectoral agenda for the next three years and elect from among
themselves the NAPC Basic Sector Council members," he said.
The council then elects three nominees to the post of Sectoral
Representatives who is appointed by the President.
President Arroyo had previously approved the appointments of nine basic
sector representatives to NAPC. The remaining five sectors are
currently represented by officers-in-charge. NAPC was authorized by the
Office of the President, through Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, to lead
the formulation of the guidelines pursuant to AO 187.
JULY 2008
