MANILA: Leaders of legitimate organisations are worried over the government’s pronouncements of reforms to regulate foundations and non-government organisations (NGOs) in the aftermath of the pork barrel scam.
It now takes P1m or more to put up and register a foundation or an NGO that helps the poor.
With the capital requirement and other procedures that would be asked by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), only those with ample funds can set up a foundation or an NGO.
Anton Mari Lim, co-founder and president of the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation that is helping poor island communities in the country, was among the NGO leaders who were shocked over revelations of the P10-billion pork barrel scam.
“But people, especially the government, should refrain from taking knee-jerk reactions,” Lim said.
Lim’s foundation builds “school boats” that has spared thousands of public schoolchildren in coastal communities from having to swim kilometers to go to school.
Lim, who was cited last week as one of the four Cobra Pinoy Heroes of 2013, lamented that there were proposals to make the registration of NGOs and foundations stricter. If government authorities would make it hard to form groups to implement community development programs to help poor families, many would think twice about volunteering, Lim said.
The Philippine Star
