NAPC gets go signal to utilize anti-poverty grant
After recently signing a new memorandum of agreement, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (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 including the “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 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. It’s a big opportunity. We know that NAPC has a meager budget and this Pagcor grant is a big help in poverty reduction activities the agency will conduct for the whole country,” 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.
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.