National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Lope Santos III said the government is hoping to bring the country's poverty rate down to a single digit by 2028.
Speaking at the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Weekly Media Forum on Thursday, Nov. 30, Santos said to achieve the government’s goal, it is important to fulfill the five fundamental rights of poor individuals—quality education, decent shelter or housing, employment and livelihood opportunities, health services, and food security.
He cited the critical role of various sectors, national government agencies, and local government units in improving the lives of the poor and marginalized population by providing complementary programs and services.
“Malaki ang target ng ating Pangulo. Ibaba ang poverty incidence from 18.1 percent na naitala noong 2018 to a single-digit by 2028 (Our President has a big target. Lower the poverty incidence from 18.1 percent recorded in 2018 to a single-digit by 2028,” Santos said.
“Ang marching order niya [President Marcos] i-prioritize ang program at magkaroon ng convergence ang mga national government agencies doon sa mga sektor at areas na nangangailangan (President Marcos’ marching order is to prioritize the program and have the convergence of the national government agencies in the sectors and areas that are in need),” he added.
The NAPC, established by Republic Act 8425 or the "Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act," serves as the coordination and monitoring body that ensures the responsive and complete implementation of all social reform and poverty-alleviation programs and commitments under the administration's anti-poverty and social reform agenda.
As a monitoring body, it makes recommendations to help ensure the effective formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policies, programs, resource allocation, and management of social reform and poverty alleviation programs.
NAPC is one of the DSWD-supervised agencies that oversees productive collaboration on poverty-alleviation efforts and the realization of the poor's fundamental rights.
In discussing the country's poverty situation, Santos cited a study that found that many Filipinos believe their current situation has improved.
“That is a very good indication that the comprehensive approach of the Marcos administration is working,” he pointed out.
Santos believes that convergence and harmonized efforts among basic sectors, and government agencies can have a significant impact on the Marcos administration’s overall agenda in reducing the poverty incidence in the country by 2028.