NAPC, House sign anti-poverty covenant
The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and House of Representatives have committed to join forces so government can better address poverty nationwide.
Both camps formalized such commitment in a covenant signed Wednesday at Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila in Ortigas Center during a forum on NAPC's policy and program advocacies.
NAPC chief Domingo Panganiban believes this development is timely especially now that the agency is focusing its efforts to better oversee and coordinate anti-poverty measures of its member-offices.
Created through Republic Act 8425, NAPC evolved from a commission with 17 line agencies and organizations as well as four local government leagues to a body composed of 27 entities.
"We'll facilitate access of stakeholders concerned to agencies implementing anti-poverty programs and projects," said Panganiban who signed the covenant on behalf of NAPC.
NAPC is seeking Congress' approval of anti-poverty laws it is proposing under its legislative agenda.
Among these proposals are establishing the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, addressing national land use and water concerns, strengthening the country's disaster risk management capability, providing scholarships until the tertiary level, promoting more awareness about the International Humanitarian Law, improving social security and creating a Magna Carta each for women and the poor.
Four solons who signed the covenant are backing NAPC's legislative agenda and pledged to work for the proposed laws' approval.
"Together, let's teach our people to fish so they can eat for life," House committee on poverty alleviation chairperson Carmen Cari said during the forum.
She also urged government and other stakeholders to be pro-active in addressing poverty nationwide.
Cari is particularly backing NAPC's proposed Magna Carta for the poor as this is intended at giving marginalized people the security, empowerment and livelihood opportunities needed in improving their lives.
House committee on people's participation chairperson Guillermo Cua is supporting such three-pronged approach as the country seeks to reduce to less than 17 percent its national poverty incidence.
National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) 2003 estimates presented during the forum showed poverty incidence ranged from 17.4 percent (Luzon) to 29.4 percent (Visayas) to 37.7 percent (Mindanao) during the year.
"We'll support NAPC's legislative proposals but will prioritize those that promote people's participation," Cua added.
NSCB data showed that national poverty incidence dropped from 33 percent (2000) to 30 percent (2003).
House rural development committee chairperson Arrel Olaño noted coordination between NAPC and Congress must be strengthened since such gains are still small compared to magnitude of the problem.
Speaking through her representative, House special committee on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) chairperson Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz said the covenant's signing is especially significant as more efforts are needed to address poverty nationwide.
"We need actual results on improving people's impoverished lives," she said.
The MDGs goals include halving extreme poverty; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality; reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; combating human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability and developing global partnership for development. (PNA)