NAPC unveils Pagcor-funded poverty projects in seven areas

The National Anti-Poverty Commission has unveiled the implementation of seven poverty reduction projects in the regions that will be funded from the P49 Million Philippine Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) assistance.

“Modest as the projects are, they will go a long way in helping reduce poverty at the grassroots level,” Secretary Noel K. Felongco told provincial officials in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte on Thursday.

The projects consisted of compact farming, construction of multi-purpose buildings, and village-linked coconut industry development in seven priority areas, namely: Majayjay, Laguna; Cebu City; Calbayog City Samar; Talipao Sulu; Valladolid Negros Occidental, Kayapa Nueva Vizcaya and in Kauswagan, Lanao Del Norte.

Felongco also signed a MOA with Kauswagan mayor Rommel C. Arnado that would ensure LGU support to a P3-Million village-linked coco industry development prototype.

The NAPC also credited responsive LGUs for their role in helping chip away at poverty incidence in Northern Mindanao that was reduced from 35.9 percent in 2015 to 25.45 in 2018.

Felongco confirmed this drop in the poverty rate during the launching of the Sambayanihang Serbisyong Sambayanan (SSS) in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte.

“It is still a long way to go but we are confident we can bring this even lower to 14 per cent by 2022,” said Felongco.

The SSS is NAPC’s five-year development plan that sought carry out a “climate-responsive, culture and gender-sensitive and convergent and anti-poverty strategy” based on the country’s ultimate goal to bring about a middle class society by 2040.

He said the passage of Republic Act No. 11291 or the Magna Carta of the Poor showed the administration’s heart for the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed.

Felongco said this legislative milestone assures the poor of the right to adequate food, decent work, relevant and quality education, adequate housing and highest attainable standard of living.

Felongco said that based on updated statistics, poverty incidence in Northern Mindanao shrank in Bukidnon from 54.3 percent in 2015 to 32.1 per cent in 2018; Camiguin from 40.2 to 23.2; Lanao del Norte from 42.2 to 23.6; Misamis Occidental from 36.9 to 32.4 and Misamis Oriental from 18.4 to 18.5 over the same period, respectively.