Poverty alleviation program reaches Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — An estimated 10,000 Cebuanos flocked to the Cebu Technological University in Cebu City yesterday to avail of services offered by at least 19 government agencies at the launch of the government’s Biyaya ng Pagbabago program here.

At least 19 agencies participated in the launch, including the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Philippine Coconut Authority.

Also present were the Department of Trade and Industry, Cooperative Development Authority, Philippine Information Agency, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Social Security System, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, DA, NFA, Department of Tourism and Philippine Commission on Women, and housing agencies.

Attendees availed of, among others, lectures, free medical consultation and dental services, and received free seedlings and medicines.

The launch was initiated by the Office of Participatory Governance and the Kilusang Pagbabago. The two groups are under the Office of the Cabinet Secretary headed by Leoncio ‘Jun’ Evasco.

In a video message, Evasco called on the Kilusang Pagbabago to realize change.

"This will mean capacitating the people. This will mean mobilizing organizations," Evasco said.

OPG Undersecretary Penpen Libres said the Biyaya ng Pagbabago is one of programs of the Duterte administration to bring out of poverty the six million Filipinos who belong to the poorest of the poor.

The target is to reduce the number of poor Filipinos by 2022.

The project is aligned with the objectives of Philippine Development plan (PDP) 2017-22 to reduce poverty in the country from 21.6 percent to 14 percent at the end of Duterte’s term.

Assistant Secretary Jonas George Soriano of the Project Performance and Monitoring Office said there are 15 million Filipinos living under the poverty line.

"Yes, poverty is a big challenge that is why we are converging all our efforts which now include all frontline agencies giving services to our people to unite and let the people know that the government is there to help them,” he said.

The Biyaya ng Pagbabago program intends to help facilitate stronger complementation, cohesion, and to hasten operationalization, as well as to introduce some innovations with existing poverty alleviation programs of various departments and agencies.

The programs also aim to let the people understands the ills and evils of corruption.

"People should understand that without corruption, the government can give more and better services," Soriano said.

Doris Mongaya, lead convenor of Kilusang Pagbabago-Visayas, said the Biyaya ng Pagbabago wants to ensure that the services of government agencies are felt by the people.

"We have to help the people avail of the services offered by the government agencies and for government agencies to avoid duplication of their services," she said.

KP is a pro-Duterte mass movement with over 300,000 members nationwide.

Soriano said the Biyaya ng Pagbabago stands along the Build Build Build program intended to address poverty. He said massive infrastructure projects would provide employment for the poor.

Libres, meanwhile, said development can be spread across the country through poverty alleviation programs.

Duterte launched the Biyaya ng Pagbabago program in Davao City last December 9. (FREEMAN)