NATIONAL Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Vice Chairperson for Basic Sectors Ruperto Aleroza said in an interview Wednesday morning, September 20, at the Grand Regal Hotel, that the agency is working closely with the government to reduce the poverty rate in the Philippines.
Aleroza said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had directed NAPC to focus on identifying and assisting the marginalized sectors of society.
“Kaya sa assembliya na ito meron kaming inimbitahan na mga liders ng mga organisasyon dito sa region ng Mindanao– sa pamamagitan po nila malalaman namin ano ang inyung kalagayan, ano ang inyung pangangailangan, ano ang solusyon upang ito naman ay madala naman ito sa kinuukulang ahensya ng pamahalaan (So in this assembly we have invited leaders from various organizations in Mindanao to help us understand your situation, your needs, and potential solutions that can be forwarded to the relevant government agencies),” Aleroza said.
He added that the President aims to reduce the Philippines' poverty incidence rate from 18.1 percent in 2021 to eight to nine percent by 2028.
“So ibig sabihin malaki ang hinahabol ng ating pamahalaan at sa tulong naming kinatawan sa basic sector susubukan naming tumulong para bumaba ang insidente ng kahirapan (This means that the government has set ambitious goals, and with the assistance of our representatives from the basic sector, we will strive to contribute to reducing poverty),” Aleroza said.
During the assembly, it was revealed that the poverty incidence among population rates in the Davao Region decreased from 19.1 percent in 2018 to 16.8 percent in 2021. Additionally, the subsidence incidence among the population in the region dropped to 5.1 percent in 2021 from 5.6 percent in 2018.
To sustain this progress, the agency aims to coordinate all development plans, enhance stakeholder involvement, and develop and adopt the updated National Anti-Poverty Action Agenda (N3A) for 2023 to 2028 by September 2023. It also plans to establish the National Poverty Reduction Plan (NRRP) for the years 2023 to 2028 by October 2023, as well as the Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan (LPRAP) by 2024, which will be integrated into the Comprehensive Development Plans of the Local Government Units (LGUs) and their Annual Investment Plans.
To maintain this decline, the agency intends to harmonize all development plans, increase stakeholder participation, formulate and adopt the updated National Anti-Poverty Action Agenda (N3A) 2023 TO 2028 by September 2023; the National Poverty Reduction Plan (NRRP) 2023 to 2028 by October 2023; and the Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan (LPRAP) by 2024 mainstreamed in Comprehensive Development Plans of the Local Government Units (LGU) and Annual Investment Plans.
With nearly 1,000 attendees representing the 14 primary sectors, the second leg of the NAPC-RSA held in Davao City serves as preparation for the National Sectoral Assembly (NSA) scheduled for December 1 to 3. RGP
