ABOUT US
In early 1997, Social Watch Philippines (SWP), was convened by Action for Economic Reforms Inc. (AER), Accessing Support Services and Entrepreneurial Technology, Inc. (ASSET), and Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) with Prof. Leonor Briones as the Lead Convenor, being the coordinator of Social Watch-Asia. SWP is a member of the global network with the mandate to monitor the implementation of government commitments to world summits on social development.
The network started with 27 civil society organizations (CSOs) and individuals and by this time it has grown to more or less 200. SWP works towards its goal by:
- Engaging the government and citizens groups to lead and participate in the development of the marginalized and vulnerable sectors.
- Strengthening multisectoral partnership engagements through network-building and alliances.
- Utilizing people-centered development and participatory public finance as a tool to assure the delivery of every person's basic rights and needs.
- Engaging in policy analysis and reforms through monitoring public strategies, programs, and budgets.
OUR MISSION
Social Watch Philippines envisions a realized inclusive and sustainable development for Philippine society in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and International Human Rights Law, through people’s participation in government appropriations and budget processes guided by the principles of equity, transparency, and accountability.
OUR STRATEGIES
Mainstreaming the MDGs and Post 2015 Development Framework.
Social Watch regularly monitors progress and shortfall in social development based on the government’s commitment to various international conferences and agreements as consolidated in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It evaluates policies, recommends programs and engages government agencies, international financial institutions and the UN System to address key poverty issues and human development concerns including the development of a Post 2015 Agenda.
Alternative Budget Initiative.
SWP builds capacities of marginalized sectors – indigenous people, Moro, urban poor, farmers, coconut farm workers, women, persons with disabilities, LGBT, fishers, senior citizens, etc. – to directly engage the national and local budget processes by formulating and lobbying for the adoption of alternative budget proposals; partnership with government agencies at all levels; and monitoring public expenditures.
Public Finance Institute.
SWP initiated the creation of Public Finance Learning Portals and training courses for both state and non-state actors towards making public finance a major concern of every citizen; not just of a very small group of experts.
Local and Global Monitoring Tools.
SWP created the local monitoring system on the MDGs and the Citizens’ MDG Budget Monitoring Tools. It also contributes to the global monitoring initiative by developing appropriate tools in appraising country performances. It initiated the development of the Basic Capabilities Index or BCI (originally called Quality of Life Index) which has been adopted by Social Watch International as its main monitoring index in assessing key development performance of different countries. The Gender Equity Index is the variant of the BCI which measures gender-responsive accomplishments in social development.
Global Advocacy.
SWP also produces an alternative report on the status of social development in the Philippines and faithfully provides this as input to the annual Global Social Watch Report. The global report, which is submitted to the United Nations Social Development Commission, is essentially a progress report on the accomplishments, or the lack of them, of different countries in the implementation of their social development commitments.
