Palace to gov’t agencies: Join holistic approach to fight poverty

Malacañan Palace as seen from across the Pasig River. (Photo from malacanang.gov.ph)

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang has ordered all government offices to support and actively participate in the implementation of the “Sambayanihan: Serbisyong Bayan” program, an administration project intended to reduce poverty incidence in the country.

By virtue of President Rodrigo Duterte’s order, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea signed Memorandum Circular No. 59 on Wednesday, which seeks to “ensure a ‘whole-of-government’ approach to poverty alleviation and the widest deployment of basic social services to our communities.”

Launched by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) in September 2018, Sambayanihan aims to reduce poverty incidence in the country by 7.6 percent by 2022.

The Memorandum is also aimed at achieving the “Ambisyon Natin 2040,” which envisions that by the year 2040, the Philippines will be “prosperous, predominantly middle class society where no one is poor and those in public service are watching out for the less fortunate, protecting their rights and helping them out of poverty.” /jpv