RAC Convenes NGAs to Review Commitments on Poverty Reduction

The Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) composed of various national government agencies (NGAs) in Central Visayas (CV) convened for the Strategic Planning to review their commitments on direction for poverty reduction and sustainable development held at Hotel Essencia, Dumaguete City on March 17-18, 2014.

Dr. Antonio A. Del Socorro, Assistant Regional Director of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) 7 welcomed the participants and presented the Convergence Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to evaluate the convergence programs, projects and activities of the agency members.

The meeting was attended by regional representatives from the DAR, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR), Department of Health (DOH), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and with the expanded member agencies from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Education (DepEd).

Socorro emphasized to carry on President Benigno S. Aquino’s Social Contract on Good Governance, Peace and Rule of Law, Integrity of Environment, Inclusive Growth, and Poverty Reduction.

He also encouraged the members to exert effort on the implementation of the programs for the development of the country.

For DAR, this is through the Program Beneficiaries Development which is a support service delivery component aims to capacitate agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in providing them such necessary support services to make their lands productive, to enable them to venture income generating community-based sustainable livelihood projects and active participation in community governance.

On the other hand, DSWD 7 Assistant Regional Director Nemia Antipala also shared their evaluation that with the programs, which is funded by the Asian Development Bank, the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are able to send their younger children to school and avail of some health benefits to keep them healthy. (With Press Release)