The Council for People’s Development and Governance (CPDG) was formally established twenty years ago today, on 26 September 2006. Its first general assembly included grassroots-based civil society organizations (CSOs), both non-government organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs) alike, as well as scientists and research institutions advancing people’s rights and welfare, development effectiveness and genuine people’s participation in development and governance. CPDG worked for the recognition of CSOs as development actors and partners in development.
The year 2006 under Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was characterized by extreme dissatisfaction with the Philippine government following fraudulent elections fueled by the “Hello Garci” scandal, with soaring unemployment, poverty and inequality. The suffering of Filipinos was exacerbated by graft and corruption from the presidency down to the lowest levels of government. Human rights violations were also worsening with escalating extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and forced disappearances against activists and rights defenders, especially following intense red-tagging. NGOs were accused of being fronts of communist insurgents. In 2007, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions, Philip Alston, found the Philippine Government in gross violation of International Humanitarian Law in the conduct of its counter-insurgency programs. His report also confirmed rampant red tagging, rising EJKs, enforced disappearances of HRDs and activists. The Philippine government did not accept his report. Violations continued.
Twenty years on, conditions have worsened. Amidst the increasing attacks on democratic rights and freedoms, and violation of people’s economic, social and cultural rights; against the looming threat to closing of civic space CPDG carries on with the struggle to assert civic space and advance people’s rights and welfare. ###
