Protect the poorest sectors
DLSU reaffirms commitment to social development and reformation

Protect the poorest sectors. This was the strong statement made by National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles on the launching of the civic network groups against poverty and corruption at the Angelo King International Center of DLSU-College of Saint Benilde.

As a representative of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Deles stressed that the government is serious in reducing the poverty in the country. In her response, she emphasized the government agenda and asked full support and cooperation from the newly formed group Citizens’ National Network Against Poverty and Corruption (CNN-APC).

De La Salle University System President Brother Rolando Dizon, FSC, co-founding chair of the CNN-APC, believes that the movement’s establishment marks the very first nationwide effort to combine numerous, but disparate efforts to combat poverty and corruption in the Philippines. More than 300 delegates attended the founding congress and pledged to coordinate their efforts for a holistic approach to the problems being addressed.

As an initial step, CNN-APC will focus its anti-poverty programs in six priority areas namely, Smokey Mountain, Payatas, Pasay City, Bagong Silang (Quezon City), Cordillera Region, Jolo (Sulu), Escalante (Negros), and Marinduque.

Among the groups involved in the CNN-APC are Couples for Christ, Habitat for Humanity, Evelio Javier Foundation, Sanlakas, Caritas, Assumption College, Eureka, and Konsensyang Pilipino.

The DLSU System’s Caucus on Poverty Reduction (CPR) is one of the convenors of the CNN-APC. Established in 1999, the CPR involves itself in various community outreach efforts and social development projects.