KALIBO, Aklan — Nongovernment organizations (NGOs) are important in the country’s growth and development, Sen. Cynthia Villar said.
Villar was the keynote speaker in the recent 2014 Strategic Convergence of NGOs for Countryside Growth.
The lady senator said the event “focuses on the growing importance and the increasing significance and crucial role the NGOs play in national development, particularly in countryside growth.”
Gathering NGO leaders from all over the country, the event, held at the Aklan State University (ASU) in Banga town, was the perfect venue to discuss and to come up with approaches and strategies, she stressed.
“Malapit sa loob ko ang mga NGOs, mga cooperatives at iba pang mga organisasyon na tumutulong para maiahon natin ang ating mga kababayan sa kahirapan,” she said.
The Senate agriculture and food committee chair challenged NGOs to “sustain their programs for long-lasting growth and development.”
Villar cited the trainings and alternative means of livelihood that Villar Foundation — now called Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance, or Villar SIPAG — provides for families across the country.
She said the Institute targets to have one livelihood project in each of the 1,600 municipalities and cities in the country. So far, it has set up almost 500 projects.
“Dapat tuloy-tuloy ang ating mga NGOs sa kanilang mga proyekto, (aiming for) not instant success or short-term gains but lasting growth and development,” she said.
In 2002, Villar launched the Sagip Ilog project to rehabilitate the Las Piñas-Zapote river system.
She has also initiated social enterprises like the production of coco nets and coco peat and the weaving of baskets using water lilies.
The Convergence on April 21 was spearheaded by the Ben Hur Z. Mobo Move Aklan Forward Foundation, Inc.
Among the topics discussed were “Agriculture, Food Security and NGOs” by ASU president Dr. Danilo Abayon, “Potentials of NGOs” by Caloocan University president Dr. Cesar Chavez, “NGOs Struggle for Political and Social Reform” by former Bayan Muna party-list representative Teodoro Casiño, “Asean Integration and the NGOs” by Northwestern Visayan Colleges president Atty. Allen Quimpo, and “Social Entrepreneurship for NGO/People’s Organization Business Partnership” by Foundation for Sustainable Society, Inc. executive director Jay Lacsamana.
Also present were Ben Hur Foundation chair Juan Dayang and executive director Rebecca Mobo, Vice Gov. Gabrielle Quimpo, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Plaridel Morana and Harry Sucgang, Banga Mayor Erlinda Maming, and Cong. Teodorico Haresco Jr. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
