KIDAPAWAN CITY (April 12) — As rising prices and economic pressures continue to strain communities across Mindanao, the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) is stepping up efforts to ensure that local governments are equipped to respond—this time by enforcing the “Magna Carta of the Poor” at the grassroots level.
The move comes amid a broader socioeconomic crunch, where surging fuel costs, inflation, and calls for government intervention have triggered protests and forced public agencies to adopt cost-cutting measures in recent weeks.
In Soccsksargen, NAPC convened local government units (LGUs) from Cotabato Province for an orientation workshop aimed at strengthening Local Poverty Reduction Action Plans (LPRAPs), aligning them with Republic Act No. 11291.
Held at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in Amas, Kidapawan City, the session focused on embedding five fundamental rights into local planning: access to sufficient food, meaningful employment, quality education, adequate housing, and health care.
Nelson A. Tupas, director of NAPC’s Local Affairs Coordinating and Monitoring Service, said the initiative is meant to ensure that anti-poverty efforts translate into concrete programs on the ground.
“We are here to help each LGU formulate their own Local Poverty Reduction Action Plans to address these fundamental rights,” Tupas said.
Although Cotabato Province is not among the country’s top 25 poorest provinces, NAPC included it in the rollout as part of a region-wide approach—signaling a shift toward more comprehensive implementation as economic vulnerabilities widen.
“Even if Cotabato and South Cotabato were not included among priority provinces, we decided to complete the entire Region 12,” he added.
Local planners welcomed the initiative, saying it provides a clearer framework at a time when LGUs are under increasing pressure to respond to the cascading effects of the economic slowdown.
Doren Diaz, planning officer of Kidapawan City, said grounding local plans on fundamental rights helps ensure that programs remain focused on actual community needs.
Meanwhile, John Jay Ogmena, acting Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator of Libungan, said the workshop strengthens the capacity of LGUs to respond more strategically to poverty.
“Our workshop is highly beneficial, especially for LGU planners, as it will serve as a guide in addressing poverty,” Ogmena said.
The initiative complements a series of responses unfolding across Mindanao—from protest actions demanding cash aid and tax relief, to adaptive measures such as fuel-saving strategies in public services—as both government and communities grapple with the same underlying pressures.
Taken together, these developments reveal a region in adjustment: while national policies like the Magna Carta of the Poor aim to institutionalize long-term solutions, the urgency on the ground continues to demand immediate relief—raising a critical question for policymakers on how to bridge the gap between planning and survival.
