Government must extend financial support to non-government organizations involved in child care to help them provide the best care for abandoned and neglected children, Sen. Bam Aquino emphasized.

 

“This is a priority. We need to provide the best care for those who are most vulnerable and marginalized,” Sen. Bam stressed during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Social Justice on several bills tackling child-care system in the country.

 

“Private institutions helping in the service delivery work of government must be supported,” added Sen. Bam, chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth.

 

In other countries, like the United Kingdom and Australia, Sen. Bam said the government gives funding to private organizations doing the work of government, such as child and foster care, and assistance to PWDs and the elderly.

 

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement after several child-care agencies lamented the dwindling monetary donations they’ve been receiving from local and international donors, affecting their capacity to extend help to more children.

 

“Donations coming from abroad are decreasing due to financial problems and economic issues,” said Atty. Gwen Gana, president of the Association of Child Caring Agencies of the Philippines (ACCAP).

 

At present, accredited child-care agencies are exempted from paying donor’s tax.

 

Sen. Bam urged ACCAP to submit the needed operational expenses so it can be included in next year’s budget.

 

“We have to incorporate it into the 2016 budget so we can provide regular stipend for institutions accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development,” Sen. Bam said.

 

“This is the right time to ask for funding for important projects because we are just starting to craft the budget for next year,” he added.

 

Sen. Bam also allayed fears of some sectors that the process will be exploited by some unscrupulous non-government organizations, like what happened in the pork barrel scam.

 

“With the DSWD’s stringent accreditation process, I am confident that only qualified NGOs will receive financial support,” Sen. Bam said.