| About PhilNet-RDI |
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The Philippine Network of Rural Development Institutes, Inc. or PhilNet-RDI is a network of rural development NGOs and individuals working for rural democratization and development at the barangay, municipal, provincial, regional and national levels. Its original members consist of the provincial rural development institutes (RDIs) that led in the implementation of the regionalization operations of the Philippine Peasant Institute. With the end of the 1993-1996 program of the Philippine Peasant Institute, the RDIs saw the need to continue their grassroots operations even as PPI saw it fit to revert to its pre-regionalization mandate of research and advocacy on rural development issues and let the RDIs proceed with their work independently. Because of the need for strong coordination among the RDIs, as well as the need for continued improvement in methodologies and approaches in area development work, the RDIs decided to establish PhilNet-RDI. Since then, the number of RDIs has grown to its present number. Though officially established and registered in 1996, its operations however started only in January 1997 with a one-year fund granted by the Interchurch Cooperation for Development Cooperation or ICCO. Through the years, support of other international development agencies like NCOS (now 11.11.11), Helvetas, Christian Aid, Oxfam America, Oxfam Great Britain, Oxfam Hongkong, NOVIB, and Freres des Hommes among others were accessed to augment ICCO’s support. Local funds were likewise accessed to support specific projects. |