NGOs and children’s welfare–and exploitation too

Millions of Filipino children and youth are in one or more ways suffering the ill effects of poverty. Malnutrition, lack of access to good quality education and health care, parental neglect, exposure to domestic violence and drug abuse, sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation, are more common than most of us would like to think.

Fortunately, the Philippines is blessed with NGOs and concerned citizens who work to address these societal deficiencies.

In Cebu City, the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children headed by City Councilor-Elect Margot Osmeña has been sending hundreds of street children through college. OPTIONS Inc., a Mandaue City based NGO, provides educational assistance to child laborers thus giving them the chance to go to elementary and high school. Through networking with local companies, OPTIONS helps the children find gainful employment after graduation. OPTIONS also runs a program for children with deformities and disorders.

Doctors and therapists volunteer their services to help these children.

The Lord Who Cares Foundation is another Mandaue City-based NGO involved in education. Youth who have trouble adjusting to the regime in public high schools are given the opportunity to study in a less congested and more understanding environment. Fit for School, Inc. and Rise Above Foundation Cebu are among the organizations that fund and promote daily tooth brushing and handwashing in public schools.

Union Bank’s As A Filipino program in public elementary schools has for its objective to improve the quality of education and instill positive and constructive values in the pupils. The Bato Balani Foundation and The Asia Foundation donate books to schools all over the country.

Other NGOs work on child health, on helping children who are victims of sexual exploitation, incest and other forms of abuse, and children who are in conflict with the law.

NGOs, civic clubs, foundations, private and public institutions and individuals conduct feeding activities and medical-dental missions throughout the year. They set up and fund daycare centers, establish playgrounds, sponsor children’s choirs and orchestras, adopt schools, and run scholarship program. Yet, many needs remain unmet.

It is ironic that there are foreign-funded NGOs that help the New People’s Army recruit, maintain and arm minors, some as young as 12 to 14 years old. Of course, this is not an official project that funding agencies knowingly fund. Money reportedly gets diverted from project funds to buy firearms and to pay allowance to parents who allow their children to join the NPA. Employees of these NGOs also “donate” part of their salary to the same purposes. I was shocked to hear such revelations from a friend who has been in the NGO community for decades.

It wasn’t the first time though that I heard about NGOs helping the NPA by paying the parents of young combatants. In NPA-infested towns in northern Davao Oriental, Karapatan paid parents whose children were recruited by the NPA whenever the NPA itself could not fulfill its promise to compensate the parents. Many of these minors, however, are easily recruited because they have family members in the NPA—a father, uncle, sister or brother. I have met NPA members who joined at 15—they joined to be close to immediate relatives.

One foreign agency reportedly pulled out its funding when it learned how funds were being diverted to the NPA. How about us? Should we not be concerned that taxpayers’ money allocated to party-list parties that are known allies of the NPA could end up the same way?

But who would like to investigate such alternative use of congressional allocations? After all, doesn’t everybody in one way or another divert funds for uses not authorized by the law? An investigation would open the proverbial can of worms.

It is well documented in news reports that the NPA recruits minors. One mayor defended this practice by pointing out that these recruits are taught by their comrades how to read and write. Yes, no doubt, society in general, government—local and national—in particular, have failed in protecting children and youth from poverty, violence and exploitation. The fact that so many youth still join the NPA, whether out of conviction, coercion or material enticement, is an indictment of adult society. But recruiting children into a criminal syndicate is also a gross violation of their rights as children. Turning a blind eye to this practice makes the rest of us as guilty as the NPA and its NGO partners.

opinion@manilatimes.net –MARIT STINUS-REMONDE, Manila Times