The Philippine government led discussions of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) on the impact of the global financial crisis on the poor as President Arroyo’s top anti-poverty adviser was elected chairman of the first session of the organization’s Committee on Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and Inclusive Development, Malacañang has announced.

Members of the special UNESCAP poverty reduction body, which is comprised of representatives from 53 Asia-Pacific countries, elected National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban chairman of the committee’s first session just as talks went under way at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand recently.

“The global economic crisis has brought harsh and difficult consequences upon all nations represented in this Committee,” Panganiban said during the session’s opening proceedings.

“I believe that, far more than an economic discussion, or a technical conference on development, this gathering is in a very real sense a manifestation of our shared capacity to meet the human and material problems of this century,” the NAPC chief said.

He stressed the importance of regional cooperation and swift and decisive national action in what promises to be a long period of post-crisis adjustment and recovery for the people and governments of the Asia-Pacific.

Panganiban’s election came in the heels of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s recent warning that, although poorer countries had no part in creating the crisis, they are bound to feel some of its worst effects. Ban had urged the UN to make the most of opportunities to strengthen collective action.

Panganiban said the UN committee’s main task for the future is to institute policies that would help the developing nations of the Asia-Pacific achieve quick recovery with a focus on the poor and the most vulnerable.

“The main objective of the governments of the Asia Pacific at this point is to prevent the financial crisis from becoming a human crisis,” Panganiban said.

He said NAPC plans to continue talks with the country’s partners in the UNESCAP to explore possible areas of regional cooperation in the months ahead.