DILG Mobilizes LGUs to Intensify Poverty Reduction Efforts
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed all local government units (LGUs) to accelerate the development and implementation of Local Poverty Reduction Action Plans (LPRAPs) to intensify community-based interventions against poverty.
This mobilization is part of a “whole-of-nation” approach to poverty reduction. To facilitate this, the DILG and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) have signed a Joint Memorandum Circular designed to align grassroots initiatives with a national target of reducing poverty incidence to nine percent by 2028.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Has stated that reducing poverty remains an achievable goal despite the pressures of an ongoing oil and energy crisis. The president emphasized that the government is continuing the rollout of social safety nets intended to protect vulnerable sectors and assist Filipino families in managing rising challenges.
The DILG described the LPRAP as a critical governance tool intended to ensure that anti-poverty programs are directly responsive to the actual needs of local communities. According to the department, these plans provide the necessary policy direction for LGUs to create inclusive, strategic and results-driven interventions that are tailored to specific local conditions.
The department stressed that the translation of these plans into concrete budget priorities and policies is essential for delivering measurable improvements for underserved and disadvantaged sectors. In line with this, barangays have been instructed to update their development plans and prioritize anti-poverty programs within those frameworks.
Local implementation is already manifesting in various regions, with Nueva Vizcaya enhancing local collaboration to improve the effectiveness of its poverty reduction efforts.
The DILG has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting LGUs through the provision of policy guidance, technical assistance, and capacity development initiatives to ensure the effective formulation and execution of the LPRAPs.