Marcos wants focus on rural poor, says NAPC exec

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) to focus its programs on poor communities, especially those in remote areas.

NAPC vice chairperson Ruperto Aleroza said the president mentioned this thrust during their recent meeting.

“Nitong huling en banc meeting namin ay binanggit po ni Pangulong Marcos sa amin at inatasan ang NAPC na hanapin ang mas naiiwan sa mas kanayunan,” he said.

“Bigyan ng karampatang tulong ang kanilang mga pangangailangan, at kausapin at ugnayan ang mga local government units upang makatuwang sa pagbibigay ng solusyon sa kanilang kahirapan,” he added.

The NAPC executive said the agency targets to lower the poverty incidence in the country from around 18% in 2022 to “a single digit percentage.”

However, he said that inflation and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have brought challenges in their efforts to curb poverty in the country.

“Napakarami pong challenges namin. Bagamat sinasabi ang pandemya ay hindi na ganun kalala pero nandyan pa rin. Kaya nananatili pa rin iyang hamon sa ating mga basic sector,” Aleroza said.

“Ganun na rin ‘yung pagtaas ng bilihin natin na sa ngayon ay nakakaapekto kasi ang alam natin ang mga mahihirap ay hindi maka-afford doon sa mga mataas na halaga ng mga bilihin na yan,” he added.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) earlier reported that the inflation snapped its six-month deceleration streak in August.

This was reportedly due to faster increase in food prices, mainly rice and vegetables, as well as higher transport costs.

NAPC serves as the coordinating and advisory body for the implementation of the social reform and poverty alleviation agenda. It derives this mandate from Republic Act 8425, also known as the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act of 1997.–LDF, GMA Integrated News