Two-day anti-poverty summit opens today in Clark

A two-day anti-poverty summit aimed at drawing up plans and strategies to reduce poverty incidence in the Luzon Urban Beltway (LUB), the country’s biggest super region, opens today at the Clark Museum at the Clark Special Economic Zone in Angeles City.

The summit seeks to unify the efforts of various government agencies, basic sectors, private and business organizations and institutions involved in poverty reduction programs and implement a more focused parallel socio-economic program within the LUB starting this year up to 2010.

President Arroyo, who will deliver the keynote address tomorrow, is expected to show the directions of her administration’s poverty alleviation program.

Scheduled to speak today are Secretary Domingo Panganiban, chairman of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and lead convenor, and Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan, head of the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council-Luzon Urban Beltway (SCADC-LUB) and summit chairman.

The LUB, which covers most of Luzon, Metro Manila, the Calabarzon, Mindoro and Marinduque, is the heartland of industry, trade and commerce in the country where 30 percent of the national population and 30 percent of the total labor force reside and work. It contributes the most to the national economy among all super regions.

The implementation and completion of at least 15 mega-projects for the LUB are being coordinated to promote greater development.

These projects, which require P200 billion, will have an impact on reducing poverty and improving the quality of life of the people in the region.

Pamintuan said these projects is being fast-tracked, adding that he is confident the deadlines would be met.

"We have resolved a few problems that somehow snagged some of the projects and we are now moving full steam ahead," he said.

One project delayed by a number of issues, according to Pamintuan, is the P7.35-billion coastal road extension to Bacoor, Cavite.

He said the problems had been resolved and the project construction actually began last Dec. 1. The project will extend the coastal road on reclaimed land from Longoa, Bacoor, to Kawit and Noveleta, spanning 12.3 kilometers.

By November this year, he said the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway will be finished. Also expected to be completed in May next year is the Southern Luzon Expressway.

"The LUB projects are all designed to enhance the investment climate in the region. Industries will come and jobs will be created. The benefits will redound to the well-being of the people," Pamintuan said.

Panganiban said the Arroyo administration’s efforts have brought new hope "to our bid to reduce poverty, expand opportunities and bring about a just and equitable distribution of the national wealth."

"Our economy is at its strongest in recent history with the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growing by about 5.5 percent in 2006," he added.

The summit seeks to inform the public on the thrusts of the government’s poverty-reduction program and economic growth.

It will mark the launching of LUB’s anti-poverty advocacy campaign dubbed as Kayang-kaya Natin. Laban sa Kahirapan.

Today’s speakers are Pamintuan, who will deliver the welcome remarks; Vice President Noli de Castro, alternate chairman of NAPC, who will give the opening remarks; and Panganiban, who will speak on the administration’s accomplishments so far on poverty reduction as well as the future thrusts of the anti-poverty program.

Other speakers are NEDA chief Romulo Neri, who will talk on "National Economic Strategy, Thrusts and Major Programs in Combating Poverty"; Assistant Secretary Danilo Consumido, SCADC-LUB, on "Luzon Urban Beltway: Orchestrating Development Toward Poverty Reduction and Improved Quality of Life"; Assistant Secretary Dolly de Quiros-Castillo, who will discuss the adoption of LUB strategy and thrusts in the poverty-reduction program and on the approval of action plans; and Alexander Cauguiran, SCADC-LUB, who will give the closing remarks.

Workshops will be conducted during the summit and the outputs will be examined for proper and immediate implementation.