DAVAO CITY -- Officials of Cotabato province have pledged their full support to the Sambayanihan program of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) that seeks to ensure that no one will be left out during the new normal.
Among the officials who expressed support for the NAPC's program is Cotabato second district representative Rudy Caoagdan.
“This signifies that local government units and their leaders are unfazed as they work together in taking on poverty in the midst of the pandemic,” Caoagdan said in a statement.
Vice-Governor Emmylou J. Talino-Mendoza said NAPC’s flagship program is unique because it strengthens volunteerism and unity on the part of the LGUs.
“We are asked to volunteer more to offset the effects of the pandemic,” she said.
Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista also said the MOA signing will strengthen efforts to counter severe malnutrition arising from economic hardship during the pandemic.
He warned that with the pandemic, the situation may even worsen.
The World Bank in 2015 placed the poverty incidence of Cotabato at 41.4 percent . An updated figure placed the estimate at 25.6 percent.
Caoagdan had earlier said the figures may not be accurate considering the economic gains made by the province.
He also cited a high literacy rate of 95.5 per cent as of 2015 as proof of a much-lesser poverty rate.
Taliño-Mendoza also said Caoagdan’s concern over the poverty incidence in the province may not be realistic as earlier estimated.
Caoagdan joined Taliño-Mendoza in witnessing the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) among 10 municipal mayors in a virtual conference with NAPC chairman Sec. Noel K. Felongco on Dec. 2, 2020 in Makilala, North Cotabato.
The mayors signed the MOA to fully support the Sambayanihan program of NAPC that seeks to field volunteers on the ground to monitor if government services are accessed by those who need them the most.
The municipal mayors who signed the MOA with the NAPC included: Vicente Sorupia of Aleosan, Herbo P. Guzman, Jr. of Kabacan, Moises C. Arendain of Carmen, Christopher M. Cuan of Libungan, Florentino T. Gonzaga of Magpet, Egidio D. Cadungon of Antipas, Rene V. Rubino of Arakan, Jonathan O. Mahimpit of Pres. Roxas, Jesus F. Alisasis of Banisilan, and Evangelista.
Felongco said the Sambayanihan represents the 3S or Sambayanihan: Serbisyong Sambayanan that aims to coordinate anti-poverty convergent efforts.
“This is dedicated to the proposition that no one is to be left behind, especially the poor, the deprived, and the underserved,” Felongco said.
Under the MOA, the nine municipalities and one city pledged to provide administrative and logistical support to the fielding of Sambayanihan volunteers.
The anti-poor body's mandate is backed by memorandum circular No. 59 issued by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medaldea in March, 2019, that directed all government offices, agencies, instrumentalities, and government-controlled corporations to support and actively participate in the implementation of the Sambayanihan program.
It is also supported by DILG memorandum circular issued on February 4, 2019 that directed all LGU heads, the ARMM regional director and all DILG regional directors to facilitate the creation of provincial consultative bodies that will beef up anti-poverty programs and services.