ICCO Hails Philippine Press Freedom

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ. - Press freedom in the Philippines was noted and hailed by International Organization for Development Cooperation (ICCO) Foundation regional manager Kees de Ruitger.

"Compared to such other Asian countries as Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar, the press in the Philippines enjoys plenty of freedom to report the news as it happens," observed Ruiter last weekend during a three-day conference here on Value Chain Development on Fair Economic Development: Conversations on Framework, hosted by partner NGO - Task Force Mapalad, among other non-government organizations and local government agency partners .

The Netherlands-based ICCO supports its local partner organizations in capability building and technical inputs for its beneficiaries including farmers, fishermen, indigenous peoples and other marginalized sectors in the rural areas with poverty-alleviating inputs.

ICCO has projects in 52 countries around the world, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Africa, Latin America, and the Philippines.

Although some of its partner organizations are cause oriented groups, ICCO does not support the mass actions they organize. Stressed Ruitger, "Our objective is to strengthen our partner organizations and civil society to become self reliant."

In the Philippines, ICCO has projects in Samar for sewage value change involving coastal folks. In Mindanao, particularly in Bukidnon, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga del Sur, ICCO helps local farmers planting organic rice, coffee and cacao. In Negros Island, ICOO is involved in various land farming projects in La Castellana, Isabela, Canlaon, and Sagay City.

The ICCO regional manager remarked that "the Philippines is the easiest country to work with because here, there is a strong civil society and government and NGOs work together."

Originally posted here:
ICCO Hails Philippine Press Freedom