The Mangyan Heritage Center was recently granted a three-year certification by the Philippine Council for NGO Certification, the self-regulating body for non-government organizations in the country.  The PCNC ensures that non-profit organizations meet the standards for financial management and accountability in the service of underprivileged Filipinos.  The MHC now enjoys a donee institution status, which allows its donors to receive tax deductions and exempts them from paying a donor’s tax for their contributions.

Following its founding in 2000, its incorporation in 2001, and the success of the projects it has undertaken in the past seven years, accreditation as an organization was the next step for MHC.  The certification was received after a long process which included intensive documentation and an evaluation visit.  The Executive Director spearheaded the preparations and the collection of all requirements, with valuable support from the MHC Board of Trustees and the Association of Foundations, of which the MHC is a member.

MHC was evaluated on six components: Vision, Mission and Goals, Governance, Administration, Program Operations (Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation), Financial Management, and Networking.  Having met the standards for each, the MHC is now the first and only NGO in Mindoro accredited by the PCNC.  The three-year accreditation is due for renewal in 2010.

As a PCNC-certified donee institution, the MHC can now offer tax incentives to its donors and benefactors.  More importantly, MHC now bears the “seal of good housekeeping” – proof that the institution upholds the values of professionalism, transparency and accountability as it continues to promote and celebrate Mangyan culture.