Duterte tells Pagcor to fund poverty body

by Manila Standard, Feb. 01, 2017

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he will instruct the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to give a portion of its online gaming income to the National Anti-Poverty Commission in order to fast-track NAPC anti-poverty programs and projects.

The President made the announcement as he convened the NAPC en banc assembly in Malacañang.

In a bid to cut down on processes in order to “help the poor directly,” Duterte said, “a percentage of the [Pagcor] income from online gambling will be given to NAPC.”

As reported in the media, the gross revenue of Pagcor from its electronic gaming sites has reached P5.576 billion, as of the third quarter of 2016.

At the en banc, the President said the overall aim is to “reduce poverty by 25 percent in three years.”

NAPC lead convenor Liza Maza said that the President’s announcement is “immense good news for the grassroots organizations, sectors and the poorest of the poor.”

NAPC, along with its member government agencies, will ensure that the President’s philosophy of participatory governance is implemented, she said.

Maza added that with the Pagcor funds, NAPC will be able to implement with dispatch pro-poor programs and projects that “are hinged on a coordinated and sustained anti-poverty strategy anchored on the provision of 10 basic needs.”

“The 10 basic needs stand for the needs of the poor, namely: food, water, shelter, education, healthcare, work, social protection, healthy environment, and peace and participation. People’s participation is the key ingredient to achieving the 10 basic needs,” Maza said.

NAPC was created in 1998 through Republic Act 8425. It serves as the coordinating advisory body for the implementation of the President’s Social Reform Agenda.

The last NAPC en banc assembly was held on July 30, 2007, during the time of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. No en banc assembly was held during the entire six years of former President Benigno Aquino III.

Duterte gave the directive that starting this year, NAPC en banc will be conducted once a month to maintain close coordination and monitoring of anti-poor programs of the government.