The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and Cebu City will carry out an anti-poverty project funded by P3 million from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR).
This arose as NAPC Secretary Noel Felongco and Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella signed at the Cebu City Hall on October 3, 2019 a memorandum of agreement for the development of an agricultural trading post and enterprise development.
“We recognize the importance of delivering the government’s poverty reduction projects. That is why we strategized the implementation of the Poverty Reduction through Rural Development (PRRD) prototype projects,” said Secretary Felongco.
“A major trading and commercial center in the Visayas, locating this project in Cebu City is strategic,” Felongco continued. Mayor Labella thanked Secretary Felongco and NAPC for choosing Cebu City as project partner.
The project primarily includes P1 million for construction of the physical infrastructure and procurement of equipment; P1 million for hauling support and provision for a vehicle; and P1 million for capital infusion.
Beyond just being a partner, the NAPC also established its first-ever provincial office in the country inside the Valladolid municipal hall.
The NAPC will provide policy guidelines and direction to ensure the proper implementation of the NAPC-LGU Project through its accredited volunteers and civil society organizations.
These will include providing informal settler families and the urban poor basic services and access to climate-responsive dwellings, livelihood, and employment and developing innovative infrastructure and financing mechanisms for the rural poor.
NAPC will also push for strengthening of rural-urban agro-economic value chains; securing of health and general well-being of poor communities; and, enhancing food security.
Meanwhile, Cebu City government will assist the NAPC and its volunteers to implement the project and Ka-Sambayanihan Volunteers Program.
The city government will also provide a minimum lot area of 150 square meters for the construction of the Agricultural Center and Trading Post under a usufruct agreement.
The town will also be required to submit monthly financial reports and quarterly progress reports until the termination of the project.
Cebu City is one of the seven priority areas for the implementation of the PRRD prototype projects under the PAGCOR-NAPC grant. Others are Majayjay, Laguna; Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya; Cebu City; Calbayog City, Samar; Talipao, Sulu; Valladolid, Negros Occidental; and Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. (NAPC)
