SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) — The Municipality of Anini-y joins the rest of the world in commemorating the National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty (NWOEP).
The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) spearheaded the NWOEP 2024 with a program and wreath-laying ceremony at the commemorative “Stone of Life” marker at the Municipal Hall, Anini-y, Antique.
National Anti-Poverty Commission Director Alexis Lapiz lauded the whole-of-nation approach of all government agencies and local government units in responding to the community’s needs to overcome poverty.
In response, Mayor Maxfil Pollicar expressed delight at the progress they have made in alleviating the lives of the people in Anini-y.
He cited NAPC’s significant role in guiding them to formulate, implement, and monitor programs at the local level.
As a manifestation of their commitment to ending poverty, government agencies and stakeholders delivered solidarity messages and presented their respective programs and services for the people of Anini-y.
NEDA 6 Assistant Regional Director engineer Alexander O. Aquio stated some conditions indicating extreme poverty such as lack of necessities, food, shelter, clothing, clean water and sanitation, education, and health services, among other basic human needs.
He emphasized that extreme poverty is a social evil that hurts human dignity and violates human rights.
In addition, NEDA shared a positive report on the significant reduction of poverty incidence in Region 6 from 12.1 in 2021 to 9.8 percent in 2023 as per data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Meanwhile, National Anti-Poverty Commission Chief for Policy and Planning Services Ronaldo Mateo shared the brief history of the event since the first international declaration on Oct. 17, 1987.
It was on Oct. 4, 1993, when then President Fidel Ramos signed Proclamation No. 269 declaring October 17 of every year as the National Day of Overcoming Extreme Poverty.
Mateo noted that the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is a day honoring the often-unseen victims of poverty worldwide.
Founder father Joseph Wresinski initiated the event with a gathering of people at the Human Rights Trocadero Plaza in Paris calling for the eradication of poverty and social exclusion.
A commemorative stone was then unveiled to honor the victims of poverty.
The United Nations also declared October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on Dec. 22, 1992.
Anini-y, Antique is one of the seven areas where commemorative stones were established in the country. (AGP/PSM/PIA-Antique)
