On 23 August 2016, the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC), a private organization tasked to certify non-profit organizations that were able to comply with the established minimum requirements and criteria for financial management and accountability, visited the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity (FLP) vis-à-vis our application for renewal of accreditation. Last year, the Foundation was given a one (1)-year accreditation and we are hoping that this year we will be given a three (3) or five (5)-year accreditation by the PCNC Board.
The evaluators from PCNC were Atty. Emma G. Juralbal (Team Chairperson for Financial Management and Administration), Ms. Noemi L. Villaruz (Head for Program Operations, Networking, Vision, Mission, Goals and Governance) and Ms. Mhel C. Mateo (PCNC Secretariat). They reviewed various FLP documents, including among others, its financial and administrative policies, program operations manual, financial and program plan and the like. The evaluation covered the following: governance, networking, vision, mission, goals, program operations, financial management and administration. The evaluators also interviewed former Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban (Chairman), Evelyn T. Dumdum (President), Atty. Joel Emerson J. Gregorio (Corporate Secretary), Atty. Martin Angelo L. Esguerra (Executive Director & COO), Rebecca G. Felix (Treasurer), Cenona L. Mia (Finance Officer), Dean Nilo T. Divina of University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law (professorial chair holder) and Ateneo law students who participated in the programs of the Foundation. Thereafter, the evaluators conducted a wrap-up session among themselves to discuss their findings and recommendations to be submitted to the PCNC Board for approval.
The certification from PCNC is a seal of good housekeeping that prospective donors and funding agencies may look for in their selection of NGOs to support. Once an organization meets the criteria for certification, the PCNC Board offers a 1, 3 or 5-year certification, and endorses the NGO to the Bureau of the Internal Revenue (BIR) for the issuance of a BIR Certificate of Registration as qualified donor institution.
Local NGOs that comply with government requirements are certified by PCNC. They make sure that the NGOs maintain transparency, since most of them receive donations from individuals and corporations. For more information please visit their website: http://www.pcnc.com.ph/