The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) is coordinating with local government units to enable the Marcos administration to identify the priority programs that will be helpful in alleviating poverty in the country.
NAPC lead convenor Lope Santos III said the collaboration with LGUs is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s directive to put a premium on the most disadvantaged individuals and communities.
“We are coordinating with the local government units to identify focused anti-poverty programs and prioritize them,” Santos said.
Santos also encouraged the LGUs nationwide to craft their respective local poverty reduction action plans (LPRAP).
He made the call as he noted the NAPC, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, will release the guidelines for the formulation and implementation of the LPRAP.
“In due time,we will release the guidelines,” Santos said.
Marcos convened the first NAPC en banc meeting at Malacañang in Manila on June 30 and ordered the commission to make sure national anti-poverty programs are synchronized with the LGUs’ initiatives.
During the en banc meeting, Santos said the NAPC is eyeing the rollout of the LPRAP in 2024, which will be mainstreamed in all provincial development and fiscal framework plans and comprehensive development plans of LGUs.
Santos added the NAPC is targeting the completion of the National Anti-Poverty Action Agenda and the National Poverty Reduction Plan by September and October this year, respectively.
The Marcos administration is eyeing to reduce the poverty rate to nine percent by 2028.
The NAPC is also expected to release a final copy of the revised implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 11921 or the Magna Carta of the Poor.
RA 11291, which was signed into law on April 12, 2019, guarantees the rights of the poor to adequate food, decent work, relevant and quality education, adequate housing and the highest attainable standard of health.
Under Magna Carta of the Poor, the government is mandated to establish a system of progressive realization or implementation to provide the requirements, conditions and opportunities for the full enjoyment or realization of the five fundamental rights of the poor which are essential requirements towards poverty alleviation.– PNA
