PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) – Key poverty reduction implementing offices in Zamboanga del Sur province have mobilized resources for the immediate implementation of poverty reduction programs, activities, and projects in 2025.
As the technical secretariat of the Regional Development Council 9, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-9 spearheaded the workshop on poverty alleviation, attended by implementing agencies at the provincial and municipal levels.
The event was attended by Governor Victor J. Yu and First District Representative Divina Grace C. Yu. In his message, Gov. Yu emphasized the need to identify the factors and act on doable strategies to uplift the poor out of poverty, especially those in the agriculture sector.
National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Undersecretary Esnaen M. Catong also participated in the workshop, presenting the timeline for the preparation of the National Poverty Reduction Action Plans.
He urged the province to align its priority projects to address the five fundamental rights to adequate food, decent work, relevant and quality education, highest attainable standard of health, and adequate housing.
Based on the 2023 Full Year Official Poverty Statistics, poverty incidence among the population in Zamboanga Peninsula increased to 31.7 percent in 2023 from 30.1 percent in 2021. In particular, poverty incidence among the population in Zamboanga del Sur rose to 40.1 percent in 2023 from 29.1 percent in 2021.
Similar area workshops are also conducted in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay. These activities led to the roundtable discussion with the region’s leaders, key program implementers, and representatives from the private and basic sectors.
NEDA hopes that these collaborative efforts will significantly help reduce poverty in the region, including the province of Zamboanga del Sur. (EDT/CCP/PIA9 with report and photos from NEDA Zamboanga Peninsula)
