TO OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, MY FELLOW WORKERS IN GOVERNMENT, OUR FRIENDS IN MEDIA,

MGA KABABAYAN, MAAYONG BUNTAG SA INYONG TANAN.

FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS STOOD COMMITTED TOWARDS ITS NATIONAL TARGET OF LIFTING SIX MILLION FILIPINOS OUT OF POVERTY. TODAY LET ME SHARE WITH YOU THE CHALLENGING YET FULFILLING JOURNEY OF PROVIDING SERVICE WITH COMPASSION TO OUR PEOPLE.

NAGTUTULUNGAN ANG LAHAT NG MGA AHENSYA SA ILALIM NG HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY REDUCTION CLUSTER O HDPRC UPANG MAKAPAGBIGAY NG MAPAGKALINGANG SERBISYO PARA SA MAMAMAYAN TUNGO SA MAGINHAWANG BUHAY.

INVESTMENT IN HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT IS AN ESSENTIAL FACTOR IN SOCIOECONOMIC GROWTH AND FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE TO INFORM YOU, MY FELLOW GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND OUR DEAR BENEFICIARIES, THAT THE DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION’S COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVING “MATATAG, MAGINHAWA AT PANATAG NA BUHAY” HAS GAINED TRACTION AND IS NOW BEING FELT BY OUR FELLOW FILIPINOS.

THE POVERTY INCIDENCE IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2018 HAS SIGNIFICANTLY DROPPED BY SIX POINT ONE PERCENT AS COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD IN 2015. MORE FILIPINO FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO MEET BASIC FOOD NEEDS AS SUBSISTENCE INCIDENCE DECREASED TO SIX POINT TWO PERCENT IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2018.

ALSO, THE PROPORTION OF FILIPINO INDIVIDUALS DESCRIBED AS POOR HAS SETTLED AT TWENTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY’S TOTAL POPULATION, DOWN FROM TWENTY-SEVEN POINT SIX PERCENT REPORTED DURING THE SAME PERIOD IN 2015.

THEREFORE, IN JUST THREE YEARS, WE CAN ALREADY SEE THE FRUITS OF OUR EFFORTS. POVERTY HAS DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY BY FOCUSING ON FOUR PRIORITY AREAS – EDUCATION, HEALTH, SOCIAL PROTECTION, AND RURAL POVERTY – WHICH WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE PRESIDENT DURING THE SONA IN 2018.

PRIORITY AREA 1: EDUCATION

ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION IS VITAL TO SOCIAL, PERSONAL, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT EQUIPS OUR YOUTH WITH KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT MAKE THEM ASSETS OF THE SOCIETY.

ANG EDUKASYON AY MAGSISILBING DAAN NG ATING KABATAAN TUNGO SA MAUNLAD NA KINABUKASAN.

ON EXPANDING ACCESS, MORE THAN TWENTY-SEVEN POINT EIGHT MILLION LEARNERS ARE ENROLLED IN BASIC EDUCATION. OUR NET ENROLLMENT RATE FOR GRADES SEVEN TO TWELVE HAS INCREASED FROM SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT IN 2016 TO EIGHTY PERCENT IN 2018.

THIS MEANS THAT MORE STUDENTS ARE STAYING IN SCHOOL AND ARE ABLE TO COMPLETE THEIR BASIC EDUCATION. IN FACT, FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2018 TO 2019, THE COMPLETION RATE FOR ELEMENTARY IS AT NINETY SEVEN PERCENT, FOR JUNIOR HIGH IT IS AT EIGHTY NINE PERCENT. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR DEPED HAS RECORDED OVER ONE POINT THREE MILLION GRADUATES OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

FOR THESE GRADUATES, WE MADE TERTIARY EDUCATION MORE ACCESSIBLE THROUGH FREE TUITION FEES IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES.

THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE PASSAGE OF THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION ACT OR REPUBLIC ACT TEN NINE THIRTY ONE WHICH IS IN ITS SECOND YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION.

THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION OR CHED WAS GIVEN A BUDGET OF FORTY BILLION PESOS IN 2018 FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW. THIS AMOUNT GAVE MORE THAN ONE MILLION COLLEGE STUDENTS FREE TUITION. MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND RECEIVED EDUCATION SUBSIDIES, AND TWENTY-FOUR THOUSAND WERE ENROLLED IN TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING, MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE WOMEN.

IN ADDITION, THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OR TESDA ALSO IMPLEMENTS THE TRAINING FOR WORK SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND THE SPECIAL TRAINING FOR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT THESE STUDENTS FIND GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

PRIORITY AREA 2: HEALTH

HEALTH IS AN IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE OF DEVELOPMENT. NOT ONLY DOES IT IMPROVE INDIVIDUAL WELL-BEING, BUT ALSO BOOSTS THE NATION’S PRODUCTIVITY.

ANG MASIGLANG MAMAMAYAN AY SUSI SA MAGINHAWANG BAYAN.

TO COMBAT HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION, AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES, THE PRESIDENT HAS DIRECTED THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OR DOH AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS TO ADVANCE AND PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH.

UNDER THE FEEDING PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) AND DEPED, THREE POINT NINE MILLION CHILDREN HAVE BEEN PROVIDED HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS AND LOCALLY SOURCED FOOD.

IN 2018, DSWD HAS SERVED MORE THAN ONE POINT SEVEN MILLION (1.7 MILLION) CHILDREN IN DAYCARE CENTERS. ON THE PART OF DEPED, OVER TWO POINT ONE MILLION UNDERNOURISHED LEARNERS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOOD WITH HIGH NUTRITIONAL VALUE. THESE FEEDING PROGRAMS HAVE SHOWN POSITIVE IMPACT NOT ONLY IN MITIGATING NUTRITION DEFICIENCIES OF SCHOOL CHILDREN, BUT ALSO IN KEEPING THEM IN SCHOOL.

ANNUALLY, ONE POINT FIVE MILLION FILIPINOS ARE PUSHED INTO POVERTY BECAUSE OF HIGH OUT-OF-POCKET MEDICAL CARE EXPENSES. THUS, DOH HAS IMPLEMENTED THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR INDIGENTS PROGRAM OR MAIP TO HELP INDIGENT FILIPINOS OBTAIN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DIAGNOSTICS, MEDICINES, MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND SERVICES.

IN 2018, ONE POINT THREE MILLION INDIGENT PATIENTS RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH MAIP, WHICH IS HIGHER BY FIFTEEN PERCENT COMPARED TO THE ONE POINT ONE MILLION PATIENTS RECORDED IN 2017.

AS A COMPLEMENT TO THE MAIP, DOH AND PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION OR PHILHEALTH WORK TOGETHER TO IMPLEMENT THE POINT-OF-CARE PROGRAM WHICH SEEKS TO PROVIDE POOR FILIPINOS WITH HEALTHCARE COVERAGE. IN 2018, SEVENTEEN POINT FIVE MILLION FILIPINOS WERE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM, A DRASTIC INCREASE COMPARED TO THE THREE HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND ENROLLED FILIPINOS IN 2017.

IN ADDITION TO THE INITIATIVES OF DOH, DSWD’S ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS SITUATIONS WAS ABLE TO CATER TO ALMOST HALF A MILLION INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE IN NEED OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, DISBURSING A TOTAL OF OVER TWO BILLION PESOS.

DEPLOYMENT OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES CONTRIBUTES TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF RURAL HEALTH. IN LINE WITH THIS, DOH IMPLEMENTS THE HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM TO AUGMENT THE LOCAL HEALTH WORKFORCE AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

MORE THAN THIRTY-ONE THOUSAND HEALTH PERSONNEL WERE DEPLOYED NATIONWIDE TO COMPLEMENT THE EXISTING LOCAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, ESPECIALLY IN THE REMOTE AREAS, AND MUNICIPALITIES WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.

PRIORITY AREA 3: SOCIAL PROTECTION

WE STRIVE TO PUSH FOR POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AIMED AT REDUCING POVERTY AND VULNERABILITY BY ENHANCING THE PEOPLE’S CAPACITY TO MANAGE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RISKS.

ANG BAWAT ISA SA ATIN AY NAGNANAIS NA MAKADAMA NG KAPANATAGAN SA BUHAY, MAGKAROON NG SAPAT NA MAPAGKUKUNAN NG PAGTUGON SA PANGANGAILANGAN, MAGING PAYAPA AT LIGTAS, AT MAGKAROON NG MAHABA AT MAGINHAWANG BUHAY.

THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES REPORTS THAT FORTY-EIGHT POINT FIVE PERCENT OF FILIPINO HOUSEHOLDS ARE VULNERABLE TO INCOME POVERTY, SPECIALLY IF STRICKEN BY DISASTERS. MANY FILIPINOS – BOTH LOCALLY AND ABROAD – ARE EXPOSED TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RISKS SUCH AS EXPLOITATION, LOSS OF INCOME, AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

A. SOCIAL PROTECTION: VULNERABILITY TO POVERTY AND DISASTERS

THE POOR AND NEAR POOR ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE TO SHOCKS. FOR THIS REASON, THE DSWD CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMS THAT ALLEVIATE POVERTY.

THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM SERVES MORE THAN FOUR POINT ONE MILLION POOR HOUSEHOLDS.

THESE FAMILIES ARE GIVEN HEALTH AND EDUCATION GRANTS AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL RICE SUBSIDY OF SIX HUNDRED PESOS PER MONTH.

FOR OUR ELDERLY, WE CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE SOCIAL PENSION AND WE ARE NOW COVERING THREE POINT SEVEN MILLION INDIGENT SENIOR CITIZENS. WE ALSO PROVIDE A HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS TO OUR ELDERLY WHO REACH ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD UNDER THE CENTENARIANS ACT.

ALMOST NINE POINT FIVE MILLION FILIPINOS HAVE ALSO BENEFITED FROM THE UNCONDITIONAL CASH TRANSFER PROGRAM. EACH BENEFICIARY RECEIVED TWO THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED PESOS IN 2018 AND ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED PESOS THIS 2019.

DURING TIMES OF DISASTERS SUCH AS TYPHOONS AND EARTHQUAKES IN RECENT YEARS, THE DSWD ALSO ENSURES THAT BASIC FOOD AND SHELTER NEEDS ARE PROVIDED TO AFFECTED HOUSEHOLDS. SINCE 2016, WE HAVE DELIVERED RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO OVER THREE POINT TWO MILLION HOUSEHOLDS.

LET US WITNESS HOW OUR PROGRAM HELPED ELVIE DELA CRUZ MOVE OUT FROM THE TRAP OF POVERTY.

B. SOCIAL PROTECTION: ENSURING DECENT WORK

TO PROTECT AND RESPECT ALL RIGHTS AT WORK, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT OR DOLE STRICTLY ENFORCED COMPLIANCE TO LABOR LAWS AND STANDARDS THROUGH ITS LABOR INSPECTION PROGRAM.

DOLE REMAINS AGGRESSIVE IN ITS EFFORTS TO REALIZE THE PRESIDENT’S DIRECTIVE IN PUTTING AN END TO “ENDO” AND OTHER FORMS OF ILLEGAL CONTRACTING.

THIS RESULTED IN THE REGULARIZATION OF MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND WORKERS FROM 2016 TO 2019.

C. SOCIAL PROTECTION: PROTECTING AND SUPPORTING OVERSEAS FILIPINOS.

IT IS THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT EVERY FILIPINO CITIZEN, INCLUDING THE OVERSEAS FILIPINOS. IN LINE WITH THIS, THE DOLE PRIORITIZES THE ADOPTION OF MEASURES AND MECHANISMS TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE WELFARE AND INTEREST OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS OR OFWS AT EVERY STAGE OF THE MIGRATION CYCLE – FROM RECRUITMENT TO DEPLOYMENT TO RE-INTEGRATION.

FROM 2016 TO 2018, THE DOLE ENSURED THE DOCUMENTATION OF OVER FOUR POINT TWO MILLION DEPLOYED OFWS.

ALMOST SIXTY-FOUR THOUSAND VICTIMS OF ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT WERE ALSO PROVIDED WITH LEGAL ASSISTANCE.

ON-SITE ASSISTANCE SUCH AS TRAINING, CASE MANAGEMENT, CUSTODIAL SERVICES, REPATRIATION, AND OTHER WELFARE SERVICES WERE EXTENDED TO ALMOST TWO POINT FIVE MILLION OFWS.

UNDER THE REINTEGRATION PROGRAM, NEARLY ONE HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND OFW RETURNEES AND THEIR FAMILIES UNDERWENT TRAINING AND OR RECEIVED LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE.

ELSIE VILLARDO AND JOVY BERSABE, WHO WERE FORMER OFWS AND REINTEGRATED THROUGH DOLE, SHARE THEIR STORIES OF SUCCESS.

D. SOCIAL PROTECTION: GIVING WORKERS ACCESS TO LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES

TO PROTECT VULNERABLE WORKERS FROM RISKS, AND SHOCKS OR DISASTERS, THE DOLE IMPLEMENTED DOLE INTEGRATED LIVELIHOOD AND EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM CONSISTING OF LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE AND EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT AS WELL AS CASH-FOR-WORK, SOCIAL INSURANCE AMOUNTING TO SIXTY-FIVE THOUSAND PESOS AND FREE SKILLS TRAINING TO PREPARE THEM FOR SELF OR WAGE EMPLOYMENT.

WITH A BUDGET OF EIGHT POINT FIVE BILLION PESOS, DOLE REACHED A TOTAL OF ONE POINT THREE MILLION BENEFICIARIES. SEVENTY-NINE PERCENT WERE PROVIDED WITH EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT WHILE THE REST WERE GIVEN LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE.

IN 2018, THEY LAUNCHED THE BORACAY EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM FOR WORKERS AFFECTED BY THE CLOSURE OF BORACAY ISLAND. ALMOST TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF DISPLACED WORKERS WERE PROVIDED WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, LIVELIHOOD, EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT, AND EMPLOYMENT FACILITATION SERVICES.

COMPLEMENTING THE EFFORTS OF THE DOLE, DSWD ALSO OFFERS THE SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM OR SLP. AS OF MARCH 2019, OVER SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND HOUSEHOLDS BENEFITED FROM THE PROGRAM THROUGH MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT FACILITATION TRACK.

E. SHELTER SUPPORT

IN SUPPORT OF THE POVERTY ALLEVIATION STRATEGY OF THE DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION, THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL OR HUDCC REPORTS THAT AS OF MAY 2019, OVER THREE POINT FIVE MILLION INDIVIDUALS OR ALMOST SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND HOUSEHOLDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH SOCIALIZED AND LOW-COST HOUSING. THIS REPRESENTS NINETY-EIGHT PERCENT OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE PERIOD – THE HIGHEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AS COMPARED TO PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS.

AS A RESULT OF THE INCREASED ACTIVITY IN THE HOUSING SECTOR, LOCAL SKILLED AND SEMI-SKILLED CONSTRUCTION WORKERS HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL INCOME TO ALMOST THREE POINT EIGHT MILLION INDIVIDUALS.

F. MARAWI RECONSTRUCTION

TERRORISM HAS DISRUPTED THE LIVES OF OUR FELLOW FILIPINOS IN MARAWI. AS A RESULT, THE ADMINISTRATION ADOPTED A WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO THE RECOVERY, RECONSTRUCTION, AND REHABILITATION OF THE CITY. THE MARAWI RISE PLAN UNDERSCORES BUILDING RESILIENCE, CAPITALIZING ON IDENTITY, AND CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT AND POSITIVE EVOLUTION.

TO IMPROVE SERVICES FOR MARAWI, THE TASK FORCE BANGON MARAWI OR TFBM IMPLEMENTED THE KATHANOR – A BIOMETRICS-BASED PROFILING OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS. TO DATE, MORE THAN THIRTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DISPLACED FAMILIES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED. TFBM AND OTHER AGENCIES ARE UTILIZING THIS DATABASE TO ENSURE THAT SUPPORT AND INTERVENTIONS ARE PROVIDED ONLY TO LEGITIMATE IDPs.

THE TFBM SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOUSING LED BY THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY CONTINUES TO BUILD TEMPORARY SHELTERS FOR THE DISPLACED FAMILIES. TO DATE, A TOTAL OF ALMOST TEN THOUSAND DISPLACED PERSONS OR OVER ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED DISPLACED FAMILIES FROM EVACUATION CENTERS, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE MARAWI CITY ARE NOW LIVING IN TEMPORARY SHELTERS.

DSWD, IN TURN, HAS DELIVERED RELIEF AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE TO IDPs THROUGH THE PROVISION OF LIVELIHOOD SETTLEMENT GRANTS FROM THE SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM. IN FACT, OVER THREE HUNDRED MILLION PESOS OF LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE WERE DISTRIBUTED TO MORE THAN NINETEEN THOUSAND IDPs. DSWD ALSO DISTRIBUTED TRANSITORY FAMILY SUPPORT PACKAGES AMOUNTING TO OVER EIGHT HUNDRED TWENTYSEVEN MILLION PESOS AND “PABAON” PACKS AMOUNTING TO ALMOST TWENTY MILLION PESOS.

THE TASK FORCE BANGON MARAWI CONTINUES TO CONVERGE WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS ALL THE CONCERNS RELATED TO THE CITY’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

RURAL POVERTY

VULNERABLE SECTORS ARE CONCENTRATED IN RURAL AREAS AND POVERTY IS A MAJOR CONCERN.

DEVELOPMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES SHOULD NOT ONLY BE CENTERED IN THE URBAN AREAS. WE MAKE SURE THAT DEVELOPMENT IS BEING FELT BY EVERY FILIPINO, AND WE CONTINUE TO UPHOLD OUR COMMITMENT THAT NO FILIPINO SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND.

WALANG MAIIWAN SA ATING PAGLALAKBAY TUNGO SA KAUNLARAN.

FIFTY-FOUR POINT SEVEN PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION LIVE IN AREAS CLASSIFIED AS RURAL, WITH A MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION RELYING ON FARMING, FORESTRY AND FISHING.

IT IS THEREFORE CRITICAL THAT THE GOVERNMENT PRIORITIZE RURAL DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE THE NATIONAL ECONOMY. THIS ENTAILS ENSURING THAT FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES, TECHNOLOGIES, AND SUPPORT FACILITIES.

A. RURAL POVERTY: CONTINUING LAND DISTRIBUTION

IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT’S COMMITMENT TO DISTRIBUTE AGRICULTURAL LANDS TO FARMERS, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM OR DAR DISTRIBUTED NINETY THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED HECTARES OF LAND TO NEARLY FIFTY-EIGHT THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AGRARIAN REFORM BENEFICIARIES FROM JULY 2016 TO MARCH OF 2019.

B. RURAL POVERTY: SUPPORTING THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN INCREASING FOOD PRODUCTION.

IN RESPONSE TO THE THRUST OF PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE IN INCREASING FOOD PRODUCTION AND REDUCING POVERTY IN THE PROVINCES, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OR DA HAS CREATED THE SPECIAL AREA FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OR SAAD – COINED AFTER THE BISAYA WORD “SAAD,” WHICH MEANS PROMISE.

WITH THE SAAD PROGRAM, BENEFICIARIES ARE PROVIDED WITH LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS AND TRAINING. AS OF 2019, DA SERVED MORE THAN FIFTY-EIGHT THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS AND MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND FARMER GROUP BENEFICIARIES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, DAR HAS ESTABLISHED ITS AGRARIAN REFORM BENEFICIARIES DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM. OVER ONE POINT FIVE MILLION BENEFICIARIES WERE ENROLLED AND WERE GIVEN ACCESS TO CREDIT AND MICROFINANCE SERVICES, TECHNICAL ENTERPRISE AND FARM PRODUCTIVITY SUPPORT, AND PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

SOME OF OUR FARMER BENEFICIARIES SHARE THE IMPACT OF HAVING ACCESS TO RESOURCES, TECHNOLOGIES, AND SUPPORT FACILITIES.

HDPRC WAYS FORWARD: ENABLING POLICIES

WITH THESE INSPIRATIONAL SUCCESS STORIES, THE HDPRC IS MORE DRIVEN TO CONTINUE ITS ENDEAVOR IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERY FILIPINO. WE AIM TO DO THIS THROUGH THE EARNEST IMPLEMENTATION OF PRO-PEOPLE POLICIES ENACTED UNDER THE DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION.

THESE POLICIES ARE:

FIRST, THE REPUBLIC ACT ELEVEN TWO NINETY-ONE OR THE MAGNA CARTA OF THE POOR WHICH MANDATES THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, OFFICES, BUREAUS, AND OTHER INSTRUMENTALITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SERVICES READILY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL POOR FILIPINOS;

SECOND, THE MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. FIFTY NINE ENTITLED SAMBAYANIHAN: SERBISYONG SAMBAYANAN ESTABLISHES CORE COMPONENTS TO OVERCOME POVERTY, INCLUDING BASIC SUPPORT SERVICES TO INFORMAL SETTLER FAMILIES AND THE URBAN POOR, DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND FINANCING MECHANISMS, STRENGTHENING THE RURALURBAN AGRO-ECONOMIC VALUE CHAINS, ENHANCING FOOD SECURITY, AND SECURING THE HEALTH AND GENERAL WELL-BEING OF POOR COMMUNITIES.

THIRD, THE REPUBLIC ACT ELEVEN THREE TEN OR THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM ACT WHICH INCREASES THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE BENEFICIARIES. THE LAW MAKES THE PROGRAM MORE ROBUST BY PRIORITIZING FARMERS AND FISHER FOLK, STRONGER LIVELIHOOD AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR BENEFICIARIES, AND AUTOMATIC COVERAGE TO PHILHEALTH.

FOURTH, THE REPUBLIC ACT ELEVEN TWO ZERO THREE OR THE RICE TARIFFICATION ACT WHICH ESTABLISHES THE RICE COMPETITIVENESS ENHANCEMENT FUND CONSISTING AN APPROPRIATION OF SIXTY BILLION PESOS FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS.

AND LAST, THE REPUBLIC ACT ELEVEN TWO TWENTY-THREE OR THE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE LAW WHICH AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLS ALL FILIPINOS IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM.

THESE REMARKABLE LEGISLATIONS AND EXECUTIVE ACTIONS STRENGTHEN THE EFFECTIVE COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO FORTIFY EFFORTS IN INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THE POOR AND THE MARGINALIZED; REDUCING POVERTY AND BUILDING NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET US CELEBRATE ALL THESE MILESTONES TOGETHER. WE, MEMBERS OF THE HDPRC, SHOULD TAKE PRIDE IN OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MONUMENTAL STRIDES ACHIEVED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE.

AS THE CHAIR OF THE CLUSTER, I COMMEND EVERY AGENCY FOR TAKING PART IN GENUINE CONVERGENCE THAT MADE THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS POSSIBLE. DESPITE OUR SUCCESSES, WE WILL NOT REST ON OUR LAURELS. INSTEAD, WE WILL SET THE BAR HIGHER UNTIL WE HAVE REACHED AND EXCEEDED OUR TARGETS IN THE REMAINING YEARS UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION.

I ENCOURAGE MY FELLOW HDPRC CLUSTER MEMBERS TO CONTINUE TO TREAD TOGETHER THE PATH OF A STRONGLY ROOTED, COMFORTABLE, AND SECURE LIFE FOR EVERY FILIPINO. THE WHOLE-OF-NATION APPROACH AND OUR MUTUAL SUPPORT WILL ENSURE THAT NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND IN OUR JOURNEY TOWARDS NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

KAYA NAWA AY IPAGPATULOY NATIN ANG PAGKALINGA SA BAWAT PILIPINO, TUNGO SA MAGINHAWANG BUHAY.

DAGHANG SALAMAT! MABUHAY ANG HDPRC. MABUHAY ANG SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO. #