In pursuit of the government’s commitment to fighting poverty, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) have issued a joint memorandum circular (JMC) outlining policy guidelines for the formulation of Local Poverty Reduction Action Plans (LPRAP) in all provinces, cities and municipalities across the country.

The JMC, signed by DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla and NAPC Secretary Lope Santos III, supports President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s goal of achieving a single-digit poverty incidence by 2028, in accordance with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. Further, it lays the foundation for achieving the goals of AmBisyon Natin 2040 or poverty eradication by 2040.

“The DILG fully supports the implementation of this JMC. Through this policy, we are institutionalizing a bottom-up approach that ensures the voices of the poor and marginalized are heard and reflected in local planning. This is effective governance in action, where every sector plays a role in building a more equitable Bagong Pilipinas,” DILG Secretary Remulla said.

“This is an important step forward in our fight against poverty. We are grateful to our partners in the DILG, as well as the LGUs, agencies, and the basic sectors, for their continued support and dedication in ensuring that the rights of the poor are protected and upheld. The LPRAPs will surely be important tools in ensuring that the local development plans of the LGUs are aligned and synergized with the national plan for the efficient and targeted use of government resources,” said NAPC Secretary Santos III.

Under the JMC, local government units (LGUs) are tasked to formulate LPRAPs through Local Poverty Reduction Action Committees (LPRACs) – multi-sectoral bodies composed of 24 members representing both the government and the basic sectors or civil society organizations (BS/CSOs).

LPRAPs are LGU plans containing poverty-reduction programs and projects developed through consultations among national government agencies, LGUs, the basic sectors, and other stakeholders to ensure the plans are responsive, timely, and effective.

These plans also serve as the building blocks of the National Poverty Reduction Plan (NPRP), which consolidates all anti-poverty initiatives of the government. Both the NPRP and LPRAPs are designed to meet the needs of poor, marginalized, and underserved communities in line with Magna Carta of the Poor (MCP) and Republic Act No. 11291.

The MCP guarantees the five fundamental rights of the poor: adequate food, decent work, relevant and quality education, adequate housing, and the highest attainable standard of health. These rights serve as the foundation for government anti-poverty programs aimed at breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, poverty incidence dropped from 18.1 percent in 2021 to 15.5 percent in 2023 after just 1.5 years into President Marcos’ administration.

The JMC is a crucial step towards realizing the aspiration of a Bagong Pilipinas where no Filipino — especially the poor and marginalized — is left behind.