Thu | 7.25.2019 | 1:00 PM

NAPC Secretary Atty. Noel Felongco (2nd from left) presents to PAGCOR Director Carmen Pedrosa (2nd from right) a copy of NAPC’s five-year development plan from 2019 to 2023. Also in photo are PAGCOR Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility Group Jimmy Bondoc (right) and NAPC Head Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff Elias Labro Jr.

After recently signing a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) formally granted approval to the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) to utilize the P49.076 million balance of the P50 million grant awarded to the latter two years ago.

Turned over in April 2017, the utilization of PAGCOR’s P50 million grant to NAPC was suspended since intended projects “did not materialize within the two-year period” as stipulated in the previous MOA between the two agencies.

With PAGCOR’s approval to utilize the grant, NAPC will be able to fund its poverty reduction initiatives includingthe“Poverty Reduction through Rural Development: Sambayanihan Serbisyong Sambayanan (3S) Prototype Projects”.

The 3S Prototype is NAPC’s five-year development plan from 2019 to 2023 which “aims to provide a climate-responsive, culture and gender-sensitive, and convergent and participatory anti-poverty strategy in line with the administration’s poverty reduction target.”

NAPC chief Atty. Noel Felongco expressed gratitude to PAGCOR for again allowing the commission to use the grant. “I am very grateful for PAGCOR’s support and for trusting NAPC. Napakalaki ng oportunidad na ito. Alam naman natin na kakaunti lang ang budget ng NAPC at itong PAGCOR grant ay napakahalagang tulong para sa poverty reduction activities na gagawin ng ahensiya sa buong bansa,” he said.

The prototype projects, according to Felongco, focus on poverty-stricken sectors such as the farmers and fisherfolk. One of the prototype projects will target priority areas which need trainings on organic farming and integrated coconut-based livelihood. Aside from trainings, Felongco furthered that target communities will be given venues to sell their products – through the establishment of multi-purpose centers or bagsakan as well as the creation of e-commerce platforms.

“We will connect our producers directly to the consumers. These are among the pilot projects which will be funded by PAGCOR. We are not an implementing agency but we can show to our legislators and the executive office that such pilot projects are effective, hence funding of these pilot projects should be continued,” Felongco explained.

He added that the current administration targets 14% poverty incidence come 2020. According to Philippine Statistics Authority, the country’s latest poverty incidence, which was released in the first semester 2018, was at 21%. This was 5.3% lower than the 2015 first semester poverty incidence of 26.3%.

Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility Group Jimmy Bondoc meanwhile believes that NAPC merits sufficient financial support from different institutions in order to come up with sustainable anti-poverty solutions. "The commission needs our financial assistance so they can design viable solutions to address the poverty incidence in the country. We hope for the success of your endeavors and we look forward to working with you again," Bondoc said.

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