The Unbecoming Practices of Some Non-Government Organizations (NGOs)
Posted on Thursday 21 April 2016
The
Unbecoming Practices of Some
Non-Government
Organizations (NGOs)
By Apolinario Villalobos
“Non-government Organization (NGO)” is a
generic reference to groups whose operations are supposed to be hinged on
certain advocacies and for which, they may generate funds for the benefit of
certain sectors of the society. Unfortunately, this objective has been greatly
abused by deceitful people.
Today, it is a fact that some NGOs are put
up indirectly by politicians to serve as conduits for their ill-gotten wealth.
They use community-based legitimate organizations that eventually, are
“converted” into NGOs by using dummies. NGOs are also put up by enterprising
people who want to earn millions the easiest way.
Some NGOs pose as sympathizers of
particular sectors of the society, some of which are the women’s and
children’s, as well as, the impoverished who live in slums. The NGOs use them
to solicit funds from unsuspecting donors, some of which are even based abroad.
Enterprising “owners” of NGOs also connive with lawmakers for certain projects
to be funded by the latter’s pork barrel. This instance is what the marathon
investigation of Janet Napoles revealed. Investigators discovered “ghost
projects” of NGOs funded by the pork barrel of government officials. On the
other hand, there could be real projects, alright, but overpricing of
everything involved is prevalent….understandably, because that is how they earn
– through commission!
NGOs that just want prominence or fame,
meanwhile, exploit the hottest issues such as those that concern abused women
or children. They grab the opportunity to supposedly extend their support. But
what is observable is they just select the most celebrated cases. They do not
throw a glance to more pitiable cases of rape victims from slum areas or remote
villages. They don’t give a damn to deaths on the road if the victims are mere
sidewalk dwellers, junk collectors, or sidewalk vendors. But if a known
personality hugs the limelight, in a flash, they become part of investigations,
and even give comments to the media.
Some people who eventually found their way
to government agencies are once members of the social climbing NGOs. As their
faces get splashed on front pages of newspapers and they get interviewed by
media, suckers in the government appoint them to posts, thinking that they are
capable. As soon as they get safely entrenched in the position, their intent
becomes evident, which is to run for elective government posts! Meanwhile, the
rest are contented in their agency posts but proved to be inutile and
indifferent, and still worse, they get involved in graft cases!
I once talked to an old acquaintance whom I
asked about his current “business”. The last time we met about eight years ago,
he was the Chief of Staff of a prominent lawmaker. He bragged that he now “owns
and operates” an NGO. He found our meeting as an opportunity to invite me to
work for him as a Consultant knowing that I used to work with an airline. He must have presumed that I am good in
preparing project studies. He also admitted that he has been following my blogs
in one of my cyber sites, and likes the way I write. That’s how he found out
about my sorties in Tondo, Divisoria, and connections with sidewalk dwellers
and junk collectors.
He mentioned a tempting consultancy fee,
actually, more than double than what I used to receive when I was with the
airline. I declined as I cannot make myself write a single line for a project
study on supposedly poor families based on stories that he would give me,
without the benefit of my getting in touch with them personally. What irked me most was his remark, “there is
money in what you are doing…”. With that unsavory comment which he said with a
devilish smile, I did not finish the coffee that he paid for me in a popular
burger outlet. When we parted, I wished him “more” luck for his “projects”. The
guy is an intelligent and self-made lawyer but who seemed to have lost his way
along the corridor of righteousness.
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