MANILA, Philippines – Gawad Kalinga (GK) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) have agreed to join forces to fight poverty in the country, NAPC chief Secretary Domingo Panganiban said yesterday.
In a statement, Panganiban said “a strong partnership with GK could help transform the gains of the booming economy into people-centered growth with stronger focus in priority provinces of the country.”
The objective of the alliance, he said, is to collaborate with local government units and stakeholders to reduce the incidence of poverty by half in 2010.
GK head Antonio Meloto said he decided to collaborate with NAPC to bolster ongoing efforts to uplift the lives of the poor.
The NAPC statement quoted Meloto as saying that he has confidence in Panganiban, “who has the integrity to push a strong partnership to help the poor.”
Meloto told Panganiban that GK with the help of its partners has transformed poverty stricken areas by building homes for the homeless. To date, GK is in over 1,500 communities all over the Philippines. The goal of GK is to build 700,000 houses till 2010.
Meloto said Panganiban’s talents can help GK’s vision for the Philippines of “a slum-free, squatter-free nation through a simple strategy of providing land for the landless, homes for the homeless, food for the hungry and as a result, providing dignity and peace for every Filipino.”
The statement, however, did not say exactly how NAPC and GK would collaborate in reducing poverty.
The 10 poorest provinces as indicated in the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) survey of 2003 are Zamboanga del Norte, Masbate, Maguindanao, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Mountain Province, Lanao del Norte, Camarines Norte, Sarangani and Zamboanga Sibugay
Panganiban also announced that NAPC has strengthened its campaign against poverty by tapping Presidential Assistants (PAs).
He said every region in the country will have its own NAPC lead convenor, to be represented by a PA, to help the government’s poverty alleviation and anti-hunger programs.
According to Panganiban, Mrs. Arroyo has approved funding support for regional PAs to accelerate monitoring activities to ensure speedy delivery of basic services to poor communities in all regions.
He said he would like the economic gains to reach specific groups that need immediate government actions to improve their living conditions.
The PAs are: Thomas Kilip for the Cordillera Autonomous Region; Dr. Enrie Mendoza II, Region 1; Francis Mamba, Region 2; Lorelei Fajardo, Region 3; Honorita Bayudan, Region 4-A; Alfredo Abueg Jr., Region 4-B; Tomasito Monzon, Region 5; Raul Banias, Region 6; Felix Guanzon, Region 7; Victor Domingo, Region 8; Ferdinand Mahusay, Region 9; Pacifico Pupos Jr., Region 10; Virgilio Leyretana, Region 11; Janet Lopoz, Region 12. – Paolo Romero