Civil society groups to have a hand in Cebu poverty reduction programs

Local

CIVIL society groups will now have a formal role in planning poverty reduction programs in Cebu.

This after Gov. Pamela Baricuatro signed Executive Order (EO) 82 creating the Provincial Poverty Reduction Action Committee (PPRAC) to involve civil society in local government planning and ensure provincial programs respond to the needs of marginalized sectors.

Baricuatro said on Wednesday that the committee’s purpose is to align and define its composition, powers, and functions, and to ensure provincial programs are in sync with regional development.

“I have already instructed the creation of sectoral committees to ensure that our programs at the provincial level are aligned with those at the regional level,” she said.

Under EO 82, signed on Dec. 24, 2025, the PPRAC will meet quarterly to identify priority poverty reduction programs.

The committee will be chaired by the governor or her authorized representative, with a vice chairperson elected from accredited civil society organizations (CSOs).

Members include the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, Social Welfare and Development Officer, Provincial Budget Officer, Health Officer, Agriculturist, Engineer, Employment Service Officer, and five representatives from accredited CSOs and basic sectors.

The PPRAC will serve as Cebu’s primary participatory and advisory body for poverty reduction.

Its responsibilities include formulating the Provincial Development Plan and the Annual Investment Program, recommending priority programs for the provincial budget, advising on poverty-related concerns, and monitoring anti-poverty initiatives.

It will also ensure that programs align with national strategies while promoting transparency, accountability, and social inclusion.

The Provincial Planning and Development Office will provide technical, administrative, and logistical support to the PPRAC secretariat.

The move comes amid a notable decline in self-rated poverty in the country.

OCTA Research reported that the proportion of Filipinos who consider themselves poor fell to 37 percent in the last quarter of 2025, down from 54 percent in the previous quarter.

Guido David, an OCTA Research fellow, said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview on Tuesday that the decline was partly due to people receiving bonuses and the administration’s continued distribution of “ayuda” (assistance).

He added that stabilized inflation also contributed, noting that “life is not as hard as it was before, because our economic indicators have stabilized.”

The survey, conducted from December 3 to 11 with 1,200 respondents, found that roughly 4.5 million Filipino families no longer consider themselves poor.

Food poverty decreased to 19 percent from 49 percent in the previous quarter.

Government programs, including food centers, have helped improve access to food, with OCTA estimating that about 5 million families felt better able to meet their food needs during the quarter.

The survey has a ±3 percent margin of error at the 95 percent confidence level.(MyTVCebu)