A private sector organization, the latest which has signified its interest to help the poor, joined the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) in its campaign against poverty.

The Countryside Enterprise Development Foundation (CEDF) headed by Atty. Miguel Varela of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCCI) and NAPC lead convenor Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement to coordinate anti-poverty mechanism to ensure active efforts towards social reform and poverty alleviation nationwide.

Also present during the signing of agreement between NAPC and CEDF were Manny Serrano of Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA), Sergio Ortiz-Luis and Samie Lim of PCCI. The Chambers of Mining and Hog Raisers Federation in the Philippines also committed to take part in job generation activities in the countryside.

The CEDF was established through the initiatives of the country’s leading business organizations to galvanize and coordinate efforts of the business sector in pursuing the private sector-led Integrated and Syndicated Area Development (ISAD) program designed to catalyze a greater inflow of private investment capital into economic development activities in the countryside to alleviate poverty nationwide.

The other organizations that have joined NAPC to alleviate poverty are: Philippine Confederation of Grains Producers (Philcongrains), Flying V, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Rotary 3800, a civic organization.

In the agreement, the NAPC will help in the speedy implementation of ISAD projects at the national and local levels through the cooperation of local government units.