Biyaya ng Pagbabago: Direct solution to poverty

To reduce poverty through housing projects and livelihood programs “Biyaya ng Pagbabago” project was finally launched in Freedom Park, Roxas Avenue, Davao City, last December 9, 2017.

The Office of the Participatory Governance Undersecretary Joselito “Penpen” Libres said, “Biyaya includes benefits, gifts, programs from the government. Ang goal is mapabilis ang pagbigay nito sa mga communities na nangangailangan talaga.”

Libres stressed out specific areas of concern such as reducing poverty from 21.6% to 14% through the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022. “Six million people will be lifted from poverty within the period,” he said.

Kilusang Pagbabago Region XI Lead Convenor Alexander Balili supported the launching of Biyaya ng Pagbabago in line with their mission on empowering people in the grassroots and marginalized sectors through educating about projects of the government.

“Naa ang mga proyekto sa gobyerno. Ang problema, dili tanan nakabalo nga naay available projects,” he said.

According to Balili, though others might know about government programs, they don’t know how to avail them.

Balili stressed how important empowering the people is for the administration.

“Dili lig-on ang isa ka administrasyon sa gobyerno kung walay lig-on nga support gikan sa ground ug kung dili empowered ang mga tao,” he said.

Libres also expressed how he really wanted the people to get involved. “Pag naay program ang government pero walay participation sa tao, lisod gyud nga kini magmalampuson,” he said.

This project does not happen first time, but a continuous progress of the government’s action under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. (Karl John Zsygfrydd Calvez | HCDC Intern)