The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) advocates lasting peace, security, public order, and safety in the country by supporting the urban poor and the development of Mindanao.
It has implemented breakthrough projects on housing in onsite relocation sites to enable the building of decent communities for the urban poor or informal settlers.
“Many Filipinos live in blighted areas without the benefit of security of abode. Their income usually cannot provide for the family’s basic needs of food, health, education, housing, and other essentials. We want to ensure that they will not end up homeless by preventing the demolition of their homes or their eviction without adequate relocation,” said NAPC Secretary and Lead Convenor, Atty. Noel K. Felongco.
Thus, the NAPC saw to it that all concerned national and local government agencies were furnished with copies of decisions, writs of eviction/demolition, and other related issues involving the underprivileged.
This is part of NAPC’s “Sambayanihan Serbisyong Sambayanan” (3S) banner framework and program of action. It aimed to carry out a climate-responsive, culture, conflict, gender-sensitive, and convergent and participatory anti-poverty strategy to attain the administration’s poverty reduction target.
The 3S is premised on developing rural and urban agriculture and industry as the most important preconditions for overcoming poverty. One of its core components is providing disadvantaged communities, especially the urban poor and informal settlers, basic services and access to climate-responsive dwellings, livelihood, and employment.
Another critical component is the creation of the Mindanao Special Development Program, where NAPC lobbied for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and the extension of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) until 2025.
The Senate and the House of Representatives ratified the measure in late September of 2021, and Republic Act 11593 was passed. The act resets the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
NAPC exercises oversight functions in incorporating anti-poverty strategies and programs in national, regional, sub-regional, and local development plans.
Furthermore, it is mandated to institutionalize basic sector participation in formulating, planning, implementing, and monitoring anti-poverty policies, strategies, and programs.
