MISAMIS ORIENTAL (March 5) — With 2028 set as a target year for measurable gains, provincial leaders in Misamis Oriental are calling for tighter coordination and sharper accountability in the fight against poverty across Northern Mindanao.
At the Provincial Anti-Poverty Summit 2026 on Feb. 18, Gov. Juliette Uy — through Provincial Administrator Ruel Gayoso — delivered a pointed message: poverty reduction cannot remain a slogan repeated at conferences.
“Poverty reduction is not the work of one office, one sector or one level of government alone, but a shared responsibility anchored in collective action, accountability and genuine service to our people,” Uy said.
The summit, led by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), gathered regional officials, basic sector representatives and local governments under the theme “From Plans to People.” The phrase underscored a central challenge — translating development blueprints into outcomes families can feel.
Beyond growth numbers
Uy acknowledged a hard truth: economic growth alone does not automatically lift people out of poverty.
“Growth alone is not enough; growth must be inclusive, and transformation must be people-centered. Dili igo nga mutubo ang ekonomiya kung ang kabos magpabiling kabos,” she said.
The province’s Anti-Poverty Agenda aligns with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and the regional development roadmap, both promising inclusive growth and resilience. Officials cited efforts to modernize agriculture and fisheries, expand social services, support micro, small and medium enterprises, and strengthen communities against economic and climate shocks.
But the summit spotlighted a recurring gap in public policy: plans are abundant — execution is uneven.
Institutional fixes
NAPC Director General Lope B. Santos III, the keynote speaker, emphasized stakeholder participation and thanked the provincial government for giving basic sectors stronger representation.
To institutionalize coordination, Board Member Princess Emano announced plans to establish a NAPC Coordinating Office at the Provincial Capitol and push for the designation of poverty reduction officers in every municipality.
Regional officials echoed the call for tighter inter-agency collaboration, while updates were given on barangay-level development projects.
The 2028 test
As leaders cast their vision toward a “prosperous, inclusive and resilient Northern Mindanao” by 2028, the real measure of success will not be summit declarations but poverty data — whether incomes rise, jobs expand, children stay in school and vulnerable families gain lasting stability.
For Misamis Oriental, the message was clear: the era of planning is over. What happens next will determine whether “collective action” becomes a turning point — or just another conference theme.
