What is PFLCW, Inc.?

The Philippine Federation of Local Councils of Women (PFLCW), Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit organization for and by women. It is a national coordinating body of all the local councils of women in mainstreaming gender and development (GAD) in pursuit of women’s empowerment, gender equality, social justice, lasting peace, fulfillment and protection of human rights and sustainable development.

Women have been identified as one among the poorest and vulnerable groups that needs to be protected from the impact of poverty. There have been a lot of movements to support women in their plight. From the government down to civil society organizations (CSOs) composed of non-government organizations (NGO), people’s organizations (PO), intermediary, religious, business and professional groups, academic community and some other agents, socio-economic programs, projects and activities to fill the economic gap.

The PFLCW, however, believes that the impact of poverty alleviation initiatives to the targeted beneficiaries can be enhanced if all stakeholders’ efforts are coordinated. Realizing the need to consolidate and solidify these efforts in empowering women for economic development, the PFLCW was created to serve as the link between the government, private sector, and individual women in the community.

Focusing on developing entrepreneurial capabilities of women, the PFLCW, Inc endeavors to remove all obstacles toward achieving self-reliance and independence. PFLCW’s main agenda highlight the following action plans: 

  • professionalizing micro-enterprise operations
  • increasing access to marketing facilities
  • increasing productivity and income level
  • improving work conditions
  • providing social protection scheme
  • increasing access to new technology
  • providing soft-loans and guarantee funds
  • developing entrepreneurial capability.

History

The Philippine Federation of Local Councils of Women (PFLCW) Inc. was organized and its constitution and by-laws approved and ratified on December 9, 2005 on the occasion of the 3rd General Assembly of the Local Councils of Women, held at the Heritage Hotel, Pasay City. It was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2006. The PFLCW, Inc. is an organization composed of the Local Councils of Women nationwide.

The move to create the Local Councils of Women (LCW) was conceived and envisioned by Chairperson Myrna T. Yao during her incumbency as president of the National Councils of Women of the Philippines (NCWP) in the year 2001 on the belief that women’s groups at the local levels must be organized as one strong cohesive unit to further institutionalize women’s economic empowerment at the respective provinces, cities and municipalities.

Having formulated the National Agenda on Economic Empowerment, which is aligned to the Framework Plan for Women (FPW) in alleviating the worsening poverty situation in the country, the LW as an NGO-initiated mechanism has directed its thrusts in the areas of women empowerment, poverty alleviation and social justice. Cognizant of the need for a strengthened and sustained organization, the plan to federate the local council of women all over the country was foreseen so that a national coordinating body will help materialize the mainstreaming of gender and development and in pursuing the economic empowerment agenda.

Vision

A gender-responsive society with GOs and NGOs partnership/collaboration where women’s organizations and various sectors are actively involved to institutionalize a unified effort in developing and implementing programs and projects for women’s economic growth and nation-building while also providing advocacy support and networking assistance in the areas of social justice and gender-responsive governance.

Mission

To facilitate, strengthen and institutionalize the GO-NGO partnership towards the implementation of gender-responsive economic programs, projects and activities at the local level.

Goal

To unify/coordinate local women’s group; institutionalize development by focusing on women’s economic empowerment programs; strengthen and promote collaborative initiatives with other NGOs in the areas of social justice and gender-responsive governance.

Guiding Principles

The guiding principles of the Philippine Federation of Local Councils of Women (PFLCW) Inc. are as follows:

  • democratic participation
  • autonomy of LGUs and NGOs
  • spirit of inclusivity
  • political neutrality and non-partisanship of government officials/staff/organizations
  • transparency and accountability.

Roles and Functions

The PFLCW, Inc. serves as a vehicle in implementing the Framework Plan for Women (FPW) and the Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development (PPGRD). As such, its objectives are:

  • To implement the LCWs agenda on poverty alleviation, social justice and good governance in the pursuit if women empowerment;
  • To undertake livelihood, micro-enterprise, micro-finance, social services, training and skills development within the Gender and Development (GAD) Framework;
  • To enable women to access credit, resources, market information and technology services, education and training, health and nutrition, peace and development by establishing linkages with the business sector, academe, indigenous group, Muslim women, urban poor, GO and NGO institutions;
  • To promote and develop the entrepreneurial abilities of marginalized women;
  • To initiate and recommend to government the programs and projects addressing gender issues and concerns for policy formulation;
  • To support women’s participation in local governance through sectoral representation in the local sanggunians;
  • To ensure women’s representation in local special bodies;
  • To partner with government and assist in monitoring of the implementation and results of LCW programs and projects for women;
  • To instill awareness and consciousness of women’s issues and concerns among grassroots women.

Membership Qualifications

To be a PFLCW, Inc. Member, the LCWs in the localities:

  • Must be an established organization with operational structure.
  • Must be in continuous operation for two years.
  • Must have active human resources or members.
  • Must be engaged in advocacy work
  • Must have projects that are geared towards poverty alleviation, social justice and women’s economic empowerment.

Membership Privileges

Accredited members of the PFLCW, Inc. are entitled to the following privileges and benefits:

  • the opportunity of accessing the services of the Secretariat Office through referral, networking, marketing assistance, funding assistance, and other services.
  • to network with national and international organization focusing on economic empowerment.
  • to avail of E-business services and website product info.
  • to avail of mentoring services based on mutual agreement.
  • the right to vote during the annual General Assembly.
  • the opportunity to be voted as one of the six (6) LCWs/NGO representatives who will sit as one of the Board of Trustees
  • the privilege to be give the first priority of attending the trainings, seminars, conferences and assemblies being organized by the PFLCW, Inc. Secretariat Office.

Accreditation and Membership Fees

Accreditation Fee (one-time payment): PhP2,000.00
Membership Fee (annual payment) : PhP1,000.00

Implementing Guidelines

  • Only the local council of women or NGOs recognized by the local government units (LGUs) as the LCW in the localities will be accredited as PFLCW, Inc. member.
  • The LCWs entitled for accreditation must be the LCWs from all cities and municipalities. The Council is a non-government entity composed of women’s organizations existing in the locality.
  • The qualified LCW in the locality must bear the name: “Local Council of Women of ____________________________”(city or municipal) or the word LCW at the end of the NGOs name.

Procedures for Membership/Accreditation

1. Submit the Application Form for Accreditation provided by the PFLCW, Inc. Secretariat Office together with the following documents as requirements:

  • Certification from the local government unit (LGU) that the LCW is the duly recognized LCW in the locality
  • List of officers and members
  • Annual accomplishment resport
  • Copy of information paper/brochure, if applicable

2. Upon submission of the duly accomplished Application Form and other supporting documents, the Membership Committee formed by the PFLCW, Inc. will review, evaluate and recommend necessary course of action.

3. Upon receipt of the notification, the concerned LCW must remit payment of the accreditation fee of P2,000.00 as a one-time payment and annual membership fee of P1,000.00. if amount is deposited, the PFLCW, Inc. must be furnished with a copy of deposit slip to confirm payment.

4. The duly accredited LCW member will be given a Certificate of Membership.

5. As a bona fide accredited PFLCW, Inc. member, they are obliged to follow and comply with the PFLCW, Inc. by-laws, policies, procedures and corresponding rules and regulations that will be promulgated by the organization from time to time.

Suspension, Expulsion, and Termination of Membership

The suspension, expulsion and termination of membership shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations of the PFLCW, Inc.

Any member of the PFLCW, Inc. may file charges against a member by filling a written complaint with the Secretary of the organization. The Board of Trustees shall call a special meeting to consider the charges. The affirmative vote of majority of all the trustees shall be necessary to suspend a member; provided that where the penalty is expulsion, the affirmative vote of majority of all members of the organization shall be necessary.

The following are grounds for suspension, expulsion and termination of PFLCW, Inc. Member. These offenses will be evaluated by the Membership Committee. Corresponding disciplinary action will be determined depending on the degree and severity of the offense:

  • Non-payment of the fees and dues required by the organization;
  • Falsification of documents related to the PFLCW operation;
  • By using the PFLCW, inc. in their local operations without written consent from the PFLCW, Inc, National Office;
  • Misrepresentation