The Philippines, in particular, is home to some of the region's most vocal organizations. Government agencies often heed the advice of groups like Nemenzo's. The De-partment of Health, once a critic, now accepts the notion that men must take some responsibility for family planning. It even funds such programs. Code-NGO, a network of activist groups, helped formulate the social reform agenda of the Ramos government.
Success depends on the objective.
Taiwan's Consumers' Foundation drafted the island's first consumer protection law, which was passed in 1994. Recently its reports on pesticide residue and unsafe bottled drinking water have prompted government action. The Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee is so well regarded that it now trains the government's own social workers. Dhaka still has to authorize BRAC's programs. But several years ago officials set up an agency to deal with NGOs.