1. How do I apply for PEF assistance?
See the guidelines for proponents.
2. What are the deadlines for proposals?
PEF does not have specific deadlines. We accept proposals on an ongoing basis and these are reviewed by staff members and associates as they are received.
3. Where or to whom do I apply for PEF assistance?
Please get in touch with the following contact persons nearest you:
PEF-Luzon Office | Mr. Allyn J. Lopez, Luzon Regional Manager
Email Address: pef-luzon @ peacefdn.org
Street Address: #69 Esteban Abada Street, Loyola Heights, 1108 Quezon City
Facsimile Number: (632) 426-8402 local 102PEF-Visayas Office | Ms. Ofelia Rivamonte-Cardeño, Visayas Regional Manager
Email Address: pef-visayas @ peacefdn.org
Street Address: Rm. 301, Krizia Bldg., Gonzales Cmpd. corner Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City
Facsimile Number: (6332) 231-8853EF-Mindanao Office | Mr. Cristituto G. Bual, Mindanao Regional Manager
Email Address: pef-mindanao @ peacefdn.org
Street Address: Tulip Building, MacArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City
Facsimile Number: (6382) 299-3588
4. If I submit a request via email, should I send a hard copy as well?
Not unless you are specifically requested to do so. Sending a duplicate request may cause delays in processing. Just make sure that all the necessary attachments to the proposal (e.g., business plan, training design, and the like) are also sent via the email. Also documents such as copies of the SEC registration and the like must be sent through the mail.
5. If I submit my request to you on the internet, will it be reviewed quicker than if I send it through the mail?
All requests are reviewed in the order in which they are received. No priority is given to requests that are submitted electronically over those that are received through the mail.
6. Is there a specific format for the proposal?
Formats for the Project Proposal and Business Plan are downloadable from this site. Make sure that you have read the instructions for writing the project proposal and the business plan before filling up the form. The forms are also readily available in any of the offices of the Peace and Equity Foundation.
7. Aside from the proposal, what documents do I need to submit?
Please see Proposal Requirements in the Guidelines for Proponents.
8. How often does your Board meet?
Our Board of Trustees meets on a monthly basis. The proposals are initially reviewed by staff members and associates to determine to what extent the proposed idea falls within our funding areas and priorities.
9. How long does it take to review a proposal?
It can take up to three (3) months from the initial receipt of your correspondence before a project is deemed suitable for funding.
10. Could I set up an appointment to discuss my project idea?
Prospective partners are welcome to visit the PEF offices. It is best to make an appointment first to make sure that PEF staff are available to meet with you.
11. How can we check on the status of our request?
The majority of requests are reviewed and responded to within three (3) months from the date they are received. You may call/contact the PEF Regional Offices during office hours to determine the status of your request.
12. What are your program areas?
Please see the section on Project Eligibility in the Guidelines.
13. Are there project types that you do not fund?
Although we would like to respond affirmatively to all requests coming to the Foundation, we receive far more than can possibly be funded. Therefore, we find it necessary to establish priorities and guidelines for the use of our relatively limited resources. We suggest that you review the Guidelines for Proponents.
14. What is the maximum/minimum amount that you fund?
We have not established maximum or minimum peso amounts, but rather look at the amount needed for each specific project based on scope of work and expected outcomes.
15. Are there project proposals that are not provided assistance?
Projects not assisted are those that do not fall within our guidelines or that do not fall within our priorities.
16. If I have submitted a proposal that was ineligible for assistance, can I submit a new proposal?
Yes, an organization can submit a new proposal even if a previous request was ineligible for assistance. The important consideration is whether the proposal is within the guidelines of the Foundation.
17. For the loans that you provide, how much is the interest rate that you charge?
The loans bear interest rates that are set from time to time by the Foundation.
18. What are the terms of payment?
Loans usually have a one-year repayment period, renewable annually.
19. How are funds released?
The first tranche of the funds will be released within 15 days after signing of the Project documents and submission of a formal request for release. PEF shall have the option to release funds through bank transfers or by way of an official representative. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the schedule of fund releases, as stipulated in the approval letter and project agreements shall be followed.
20. After funding has been granted, when do we submit the reports?
The proponent is required to provide quarterly financial and narrative reports. The formats for the reports are provided to the proponent upon the signing of the Project Agreements. Or you can download them at this site.
21. Do you conduct financial audits? When do you conduct the audits?
The external audit shall be conducted before the end of the project period. This is to check the compliance of the partners on the terms of the agreement as well as to look into the efficient utilization of the funds provided by the PEF.
22. After the completion of a project funded by PEF, can I re-apply again for another funding?
Yes, you can apply again for a totally different project or a continuation of the previous project.
23. Can any organization access funds from the PEF? Should one be a CODE-NGO member first before one can access funds from the PEF?
People's organizations, non-government organizations (and their local or national networks), cooperatives, social action centers, and the like can submit proposals for funding to PEF. The proponent need not be member of CODE-NGO but should have been in existence as a legally registered entity and should have been continuously operating for at least two immediately preceding years. For people's organizations, alternative documentation to show organizational history and experience are accepted. See Guidelines for Proponents for more details.
24. How is the PEF fund managed?
One of the thrusts of the PEF is to maintain the real value of the endowment fund and work towards its growth. In order to do this, it shall recover a portion of its resources to protect the fund from inflation.
1. What are the PEACE Bonds?
The name PEACe Bonds was devised by CODE-NGO to raise funds for a permanent endowment fund for poverty alleviation projects by civil society organizations. Out of habit and for convenient referencing, the name was adopted by the Insurance Commission, the Bureau of Treasury, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in their respective rulings/resolutions/decisions regarding the flotation of the bonds.
The PEACe Bonds are "zero bonds", so called because the borrower does not pay annual interest on the borrowing. Instead, it pays the full face value of the bonds upon maturity. They are sold with very big discounts.
In the case of the PEACe bonds, the government borrowed PhP10 billion. It won't pay anything until after 10 years but it will have to pay the face value of the bonds, which is PhP35 billion. The difference represents the principal plus the interests that the loan earned in 10 years. The government sold the zeroes at PhP29.054 for every PhP100 of face value.
2. Are the PEACE Bonds a negotiated deal?
The PEACe Bonds were first conceptualized as a negotiated deal because its objective was to raise funds for a permanent endowment to finance poverty alleviation projects of legitimate NGOs, POs, and cooperatives. Thus, CODE-NGO worked hard to secure the necessary government approvals and confirmations for a legitimate financial transaction based on its merits and value proposition. It lobbied the Monetary Board and the Insurance Commission to grant the instrument reserve eligibilities. It also secured a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) ruling, declaring the exemption of the issue from taxes on any gains from the sale, exchange, or retirement of the PEACe Bonds.
The government finally agreed to the issuance of the 10-year treasury coupon notes but opposed any outright purchase agreement, which was the original proposal of CODE-NGO. Instead, the government decided to course the issuance through its auction mechanism. CODE-NGO participated in the auction on 16 October 2001 through the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), a government securities eligible dealer. RCBC won majority of the issue, sold it at the secondary market for a profit, and turned over to CODE-NGO PhP1.38 billion of the profit. The amount was then used to create the permanent endowment and capital fund of the Peace and Equity Foundation.
3. How is the PEF fund managed?
One of the thrusts of the PEF is to maintain the real value of the endowment fund and work towards its growth. In order to do this, it shall invest at least 35% of its funds in 100% recoverable loans to protect the Fund from inflation. The remaining 65% (or Ps325 million) of its funds shall be allocated as follows:
- Ps 100 Million for pro-active projects such as innovative development schemes and projects for special sectors;
- The remaining Ps225 Million (45%) shall be allocated as Grants/Donated Equity to support projects providing basic social services as well as small loans for microfinance and enterprise development of starting and/or development institutions.