In early 1997, Social Watch Philippines was convened by Action for Economic Reforms

(ACTION), Accessing Support Services and Entrepreneurial Technology, Inc. (ASSET),

Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) with Prof. Leonor Briones as the Lead
Convenor, being the coordinator of Social Watch-Asia.
Since it was set-up in 1997, SWP has annually put forward a strategy of advocacy, awarenessbuilding, monitoring, organizational development and networking. Series of national and island
consultations were organized with the objectives of increasing peoples awareness and
participation in promoting social development concerns with government. The network started
with 27 CSOs and individuals and by this time it has grown to more or less 100 CSOs and
individuals.
SWP has likewise faithfully submitted an annual Philippine country report to the Global Social
Watch Report, which in turn is submitted to the United Nations Social Development
Commission. The Social Watch global report is essentially a progress report on the
accomplishments, or the lack of them, of different countries in the implementation of their social
development commitments.
Social Watch is an international network of citizens organizations struggling to eradicate
poverty and the causes of poverty, to ensure an equitable distribution of wealth and the
realization of human rights. It is committed to social, economic, and gender justice. Social
Watch holds governments, the UN system, and international organizations accountable for the
fulfillment of national, regional and international commitments to eradicate poverty. Network
partners proactively monitor the progress and delivery of social commitments forged by the
government and influence the outcomes of policy decisions through participation, engagement,
dialogue and, when necessary, criticism. Social Watch promotes people-centered sustainable
development.

Core Strategies
Social Watch's Pathway to Change
Social Watch Philippines:
Monitoring and Asserting Social Development
for Peoples' Right and Empowerment
OUR MISSION: Drive both citizens groups and governments to consolidate actions towards
helping marginalized and vulnerable sectors be the leaders in reclaiming the peoples purse. By
making financing for development central in every persons heart, soul and mind, both state and
non-state actors become guardians of each others commitments, rights and responsibilities.
Every experience at all levels shall fuel learning and capacity to use public finance as a tool to
ensure that no nation remains hungry; no community is left behind; and that every persons basic
rights are fully delivered.
OUR STRATEGIES:
Mainstreaming the MDGs and Post 2015 Development Framework. Social Watch regularly
monitors progress and shortfall in social development based on the governments commitment to
various international conferences and agreements as consolidated in the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). It evaluates policies, recommends programs and engages
government agencies, international financial institutions and the UN System to address key
poverty issues and human development concerns including the development of a Post 2015
Agenda.
Alternative Budget Initiative. SWP builds capacities of marginalized sectors indigenous
people, Moro, urban poor, farmers, coconut farm workers, women, persons with disabilities,
LGBT, fishers, senior citizens, etc. to directly engage the national and local budget processes
by formulating and lobbying for the adoption of alternative budget proposals; partnership with
government agencies at all levels; and monitoring public expenditures.
Public Finance Institute. SWP initiated the creation of Public Finance Learning Portals and
training courses for both state and non state actors towards making public finance a major
concern of every citizen; not just of a very small group of experts.
Local and Global Monitoring Tools. SWP created the local monitoring system on the MDGs
and the Citizens MDG Budget Monitoring Tools. It also contributes to the global monitoring
initiative by developing appropriate tools in appraising country performances. It initiated the
development of the Basic Capabilities Index or BCI (originally called Quality of Life Index)
which has been adopted by Social Watch International as its main monitoring index in assessing
key development performance of different countries. The Gender Equity Index is the variant of
the BCI which measures gender- responsive accomplishments in social development.
Global Advocacy. SWP also produces an alternative report on the status of social development

in the Philippines and faithfully provides this as input to the annual Global Social Watch Report.
The global report, which is submitted to the United Nations Social Development Commission, is
essentially a progress report on the accomplishments, or the lack of them, of different countries
in the implementation of their social development commitments.