The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) credited local government units (LGUs) for their vital role in reducing poverty in the country.

ULAP President Dakila "Dax" Cua Cua stressed that localities should be recognized not just as recipients, but as co-authors of national development.

“Poverty reduction doesn’t happen in policy memos in Manila. It happens in barangays, towns, and provinces, on muddy roads, in public markets, in barangay health stations,” Cua said during the recent Philippine Poverty Reduction Summit 2025.

The ULAP chief insisted that national goals only work when matched by local action, in particular, solutions that are grounded, responsive, and deeply local.

“We influence how long poverty lasts, where it hits hardest, whose dignity it erodes, and whether that dignity can be restored. Each health center built, each public consultation held, each bias challenged modifies poverty’s impact. We make it shorter, shallower, less isolating. That is the power of local governance,” he added.

Cua also relayed how various LGUs across the country have attempted to cut poverty rates in their respective areas.

“In many provinces, LGUs are adopting area-focused or clustered approaches to target communities with the most persistent poverty. Using granular data, often down to the barangay level, they identify high-need areas and bundle interventions like health services, livelihood support, feeding programs, and infrastructure improvements to create a more concentrated impact,” he noted.

Cua acknowledged that there have also been efforts to develop programs that prioritize solo parents, elderly indigents, persons with disabilities, or indigenous peoples by offering specialized livelihood support, healthcare access, or legal aid.

“We see local governments integrating climate resilience into their poverty reduction strategies by investing in sustainable livelihoods, restoring coastal and upland ecosystems, improving drainage in flood-prone areas, and promoting climate-smart agriculture. Some LGUs have established community-based disaster risk reduction programs, where vulnerable households are not just recipients of aid but active participants in planning, early warning, and recovery,’’ Cua said.

Cua also cited the LGUs’ role as first responders was tested and proven during the pandemic.

“LGUs didn’t wait for perfect guidelines—we moved and acted the best we can with the resources that we have. We mobilized local funds, distributed aid, set up health checkpoints, and converted gyms into isolation facilities,” he added.

The official called on the national government to continue helping LGUs so that they could better respond to their role in poverty reduction and development.

“Invest in our capacity, streamline coordination, and give space for local innovation. Let us turn every program into a partnership, and every target into a shared commitment,” Cua continued.