Cebu indigents among recipients of anti-poverty aid

Undersecretary Joselito Libres of the Office of Participatory Governance explains the Biyaya ng Pagbabago (Blessings of Change) anti-poverty program to reporters.
CDN Photo/Junjie Mendoza

More than 200 residents of various towns and cities in Cebu will be the beneficiaries of a poverty-reduction program to be laid out by the government’s Office of Participatory Governance.

In yesterday’s press conference, OPC Undersecretary Joselito Libres said the program dubbed as Biyaya ng Pagbabago (Blessings of Change) will be implemented in coordination with a pro-administration group Kilusang Pagbabago (KP).

Libres said the program launching is scheduled on December 9. He said the program targets to reduce poverty incidence from 21.4 million to 6 million.

“Poverty is still a pressing and big issue that needs to be solved (amid) progress made by our government against illegal drugs and corruption,” Libres said.

“There’s 21.4 million Filipinos who still live in poverty. These families usually have at least five members who (altogether) earn a meager income of P9,000 per year. Their income status is our indicator to access help from various government agencies,” Libres said.

He said the Biyaya ng Pagbabago program will be coordinated with agencies like the National Anti-Poverty Commission to improve delivery of programs and services “in a more systematic and efficient way.”

KP-Visayas lead convenor Doris Mongaya said they identified more than 200 beneficiaries in Cebu for the program.

She said they coordinated with government agencies like the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-7) to implement the program.

“At least 250 will be given scholarships and we’re now working for their applications. About 20 fishing boats with equipment will be given to fisherfolk,” Mongaya said.