National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretariat
CY 2007 Physical Accomplishment Report
The
National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) was created by virtue of Republic Act
No. 8425 or the “Social Reform and Poverty Act” that became effective in 30 June 1998. This report
provides key accomplishments of the agency through its technical units for
2007.
THE NAPC SECRETARIAT
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The Macropolicy
Unit (MPU) was created in 2001 for the macro- and cross-sectoral
concerns of the commission. Its primary
responsibilities are to (1) develop poverty reduction strategies and integrate
such into national and local plans; (2) develop and monitor cross-sectoral
policies; and (3) advocate and develop tools to assist in poverty monitoring
and assessment.
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The Microfinance
Unit (MFU) was created In June 2004 by virtue of Special Order 2004-22 to
assist NAPC in pursuing the development of the microfinance industry and
ensuring the integrated delivery of sustainable microfinancial services to the
poor. Its responsibilities are (a) the development
of a policy environment that supports the growth of pro-poor Filipino
microfinance, especially in the area of savings generation; (b) the rationalization
of existing government programs for credit/guarantee; (c) the utilization of
existing government financial entities for the provision of microfinance
products and services for the poor; and (d) the promotion of mechanisms
necessary for the implementation of microfinance services, including indigenous
microfinance practices.
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The Basic
Sector Unit (BSU) is the unit primarily coordinating and ensuring the
participation of the 14 basic sectors identified in the Social Reform and
Poverty Alleviation Act in the governance processes by providing support for meetings
that require sectoral representation, the preparation of correspondences to
requests and queries, coordination with national and government agencies, and basic
sector capability-building.
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The Localization
Unit (LU) is responsible for introducing the government’s poverty
reduction strategy into the systems of local governments. The unit is also accountable for
strengthening and sustaining the anti-poverty convergence mechanism at the
regional level as mandated under Memorandum Circular No. 33 and the convergence
policy stipulated under item (2) of Section 5 of Republic Act No. 8425, series
of 1998.
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The Water
and Sanitation Coordination Office (WASCO) facilitates and monitors the
implementation of the President’s Priority Program on Water (P3W).
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The Media
Bureau is tasked with implementing public relations and social
marketing activities that promote social reform and poverty reduction programs
of the government, as well as encourage support and cooperation of the various
sectors in the realization of these objectives.
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The Administrative
and Finance Unit (AFU) is responsible for overseeing the general
operations of the NAPC Secretariat, which includes payroll, employee benefits,
procurement and the like.
Following
are the accomplishments of NAPC for 2007 organized according to Major Final
Outputs (MFOs).
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MAJOR FINAL OUTPUT #1:
PLANS/POLICY FORMULATION AND PROGRAM
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
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1.1 Adoption of
the Organizational Performance Indicator Framework in the NAPC Secretariat
Budget Process
The NAPC Secretariat has taken steps to put its
policies and work programs in order.
First, it adopted the Organizational Performance Indicator Framework
(OPIF) as its guide in identifying policy objectives and in determining
corresponding outputs and outcomes to be achieved, accounted for, reviewed, and
monitored.
The Secretariat intends to become an effective
oversight and coordinating body for social reform and poverty reduction; and,
as such, (1) yield better plans and policy formulation services, (2) strengthen
the country’s networks and partnerships against poverty, and (3) ensure that
government is able to manage, monitor, and evaluate its poverty reduction and
social reform programs with the utmost efficiency.
1.2 Institutionalization
of policy mechanisms, guidelines, and tools in support of the implementation of
the National Anti-Poverty Action Agenda
The NAPC Secretariat recognizes the need to address
the weak utilization of official indicators in the various planning processes
used in poverty reduction planning, particularly at the local levels. The NAPC Secretariat has therefore embarked
on an endeavor to ensure the nationwide use of the Community-based Monitoring
System (CBMS)—a tool that simplifies the entire data gathering and
monitoring process, allowing local government units (LGUs) to take command in
determining with absolute precision where the poor are, why they are poor, and
what services they require in their areas of responsibility.
The CBMS training program covers four (4)
modules: Module 1—Data Collection,
Module 2—Encoding and Digitizing of Spotmaps, Module 3—Data Processing and
Poverty Mapping, and Module 4—SocioEconomic Profile and Barangay Development
Plan Writeshop.
In close coordination with target provinces and with
funding support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through
the “Strengthening Institutional Mechanisms for the Convergence of Poverty
Alleviation Efforts, Phase 3” (SIMCPAE-3), NAPC has conducted CBMS training in
poor provinces, particularly those identified as Priority 1 provinces under the
Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program (AHMP)—
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Agusan del Norte (12 municipalities): Module 4
(January 2008)
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Sarangani (7 municipalities): Module 1 (14-16 November
2007), Module 2 (January 2008)
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Zamboanga del Norte (27 municipalities): Module 1
(January 2008)
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Zamboanga del Sur (28 municipalities): Module 4
(January 2008)
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Zamboanga Sibugay (16 municipalities).
CBMS orientations have also been provided to
provinces that have expressed interest in CBMS — Pangasinan (Region I-Ilocos),
Tarlac (Region III-Central Luzon), Antique (Region VI-Western Visayas) and
Lanao del Norte (Region X-Northern Mindanao).
As of December 2007, CBMS was utilized in the
development planning programs of 37 provinces (out of which 17 provinces are
implementing CBMS province-wide), 379 municipalities, 27 cities, and 9,786
barangays.
1.2.1
The conduct of
CBMS orientation briefings for LGUs in target provinces involved a selling
mission though briefings to the
provincial, municipal and city LGUs in
three target provinces for the installation and adoption of the CBMS in the
local planning and monitoring framework.
The provinces were: Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and
Sarangani. The briefings were conducted
in all three provinces with the attendance of the governors, mayors and
municipal planning and development coordinator.
In all provinces, commitment for the adoption of the CBMS technology was
generated.
1.2.2
The conduct of
CBMS orientation for basic sector representatives in the NAPC involved a
selling mission for CBMS among the basic sector representatives in the
NAPC. The orientation was attended by
18 of the 24 basic sector representatives.
The attendees, as well as the absentees,
were provided information materials about the CBMS. As a result of the briefing, the forum
participants committed to act as CBMS advocates in their respective sectors,
mother organization and LGUs where they are stationed.
1.2.3
The conduct of
training for LGUs toward institutionalizing CBMS in local planning and
monitoring involved the conduct of the
four-module CBMS training in two provinces that adopted CBMS in 2006,
namely: Agusan del Norte and Zamboanga
del Sur; and in the new provinces
targeted in 2007, which consisted if Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and
Sarangani.
In
Agusan del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, Modules 2 and 3 were conducted this
year, leaving out the last and fourth training module that will be carried out
in the first quarter of 2008. The target
was to complete all four modules in 2007, which however, was delayed due to the
conduct of the local elections.
Among the newly engaged provinces, only Sarangani was
able to start the training with the conduct of Module 1 in November. The two
other provinces are expected to start and complete CBMS training in the first
quarter of 2008.
1.2.4
Apart from
training of LGUs, the NAPC pool of CBMS trainers underwent additional
instruction under the guidance Angelo King Institute’s (AKI) CBMS Network
Coordinating Team, the principal proponent of the CBMS.
1.2.5
In support of
the Social Reform Agenda, and in line with the objective of establishing an
enabling environment for microfinance, the Secretariat’s Microfinance Unit
(MFU) has crafted four (4) microfinance industry advisories to ensure that
sound, viable and sustainable microfinance programs and practices.
These are as follows:
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Microfinance Industry Advisory #2: Principles to
ensure sustainable microfinance practices—fundamental microfinance principles for the delivery of sound and
sustainable microfinance services.
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Microfinance Industry Advisory #3: Consumer
protection in microfinance—information
on consumer protection to safeguard the interests of the general public,
particularly microfinance clients, making them aware of their rights and be
empowered to make prudent and informed decisions on financial products and
services.
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Microfinance Industry Advisory #4: Microinsurance—to guide concerned entities in facilitating the
provision of microinsurance to the poor and disadvantages, in accordance with
pertinent laws and regulations.
Ø
Microfinance Industry Advisory #5: Guide to provision
of Business Development Services (BDS) to microfinance clients—information to help microfinance institutions
identify strategies to improve the access of their clients to business
development services and, at the same time, ensure efficient and effective
provision of business development services to complement their core services.
1.3
Policy and Program Oversight
1.3.1
To ensure
effective coordination among national government agencies and collaboration with
the basic sectors, the Macro Policy Unit (MPU) led preparations for the conduct
of the NAPC En Banc Meeting on 31 July 2007.
The meeting agenda included: (1) the 2008 budget
allocations for pro-poor programs; and (2) updates on government’s programs,
specifically socialized housing, microfinance/ microenterprise (MF/ME),
ladderized education, and hunger mitigation in urban areas.
1.3.2 The NAPC
Secretariat also took the lead in preparations for the conduct of NAPC Cabinet
Group Meetings. To date, the agency has provided technical and administrative
support to the Cabinet Secretariat in the conduct of six (6) NAPC Cabinet Group
meetings and three (3) Joint NAPC-NEDA Cabinet Groups.
1.3.3
To ensure a
strong legislative framework for the government’s anti-poverty programs, NAPC embarked
this year on the compilation of poverty-related bills, especially those pending
in the 13th and 14th Congress.
1.4
Development, adoption, (and monitoring) the
implementation of cross-sectoral policies and legislative measures to ensure
implementation of the government’s overarching strategy for social reform and
poverty reduction
1.4.1
The NAPC
Secretariat conducted inter-unit meetings to review and craft a more
comprehensive set of Implementing Rules and Regulations for Republic Act No.
8425.
1.4.2
Consultations
with PWD Council Members were conducted to update and reformulate the draft IRR
of EO 417 based on the comments resulting from the inter-agency meeting held on
8
August 2007 at the
Department of Health, in Manila.
The reformulated draft IRR was released on 21 December 2007 for the final review of members of the inter-agency
TWG. The draft IRR will be ready for
official issuance once concerned agencies submit their final comments to the NAPC
Secretariat.
1.4.3
The Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR) for Executive Order No. 417 dated 22 March 2005 directing the implementation of the Economic
Independence Program for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) were formulated and are
now undergoing a series of reviews and technical consultations with NAPC-PWD
partner agencies and relevant stakeholders.
1.5
Development of foreign-assisted projects to assist
NAPC in the pursuit of its mandate
1.5.1
Reports and
communications were written to articulate the agency’s comments and official
positions regarding the following:
Ø
Dr. Felipe M.
Medalla’s papers on “National Economic
Policies and Poverty Reduction” and “A
Framework for Formulating a NAPC Action Plan for Equity and Pro-Poor Growth”
for UNDP-funding.
Ø
Mr. Leonardo A.
Lanzona, Jr.’s papers on the “Conditional
Cash Transfer (CCT) Logframe” and “Proposed
Evaluation Design for the Pre-Pilot of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT)
Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)”
Ø
The Philippines’ official position regarding the Extractive
Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)
1.5.2
Task force
meetings within the Secretariat have been conducted since the second semester
of 2007. These gatherings were held to
draw up strategic directions for the agency’s next program packages under the
UNDP portfolio, among others, through the Annual Work Plan and Budget
mechanism.
1.5.3
Originally
planned for 2006, but carried out in 2007, the study on the Macroeconomic
Bench-marking was designed to highlight the relationship between poverty and
macro-economic policy. The contract for the study was awarded to the UP School
of Economics Professor and former NEDA Director-General Felipe Medalla. The study was completed in September.
1.5.4
The project on the
Formulation of a Strategic Plan of Action for Pro-poor Growth and Equity was
supposed to be carried out with the results of the macroeconomic study as
basis, combined with the outputs of a series of poverty-focused workshops
conducted by the NAPC in 2006. In the course of the implementation of the
project, however, it was deemed by both the consultant and NAPC management that
no individual or consultant would be able to single-handedly come up with such
a plan. Moreover, the parties agreed that another strategic plan focused on
poverty would be redundant and would duplicate the function and intent of the
Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP). As a result, only a framework
that recommends measures to address opportunities and threats posed by
macroeconomic policies. It was completed
with the macroeconomic benchmarking study in September.
Both studies were finalized after the conduct of a technical
consultation. The said consultation involved reactions from five experts on agribusiness,
economics and rural development, as well those of representatives from the basic
sectors, UNDP and NAPC member agencies.
1.5.5
The results of
the two studies mentioned above, including the expert reaction to the final
drafts, were organized into a book entitled “Macroeconomic Stability and
Pro-poor Growth: The Role of the National Anti-Poverty Commission”. The book was launched in a presentation to
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the First Eastern Samar Anti-Poverty
Summit held in Borongan, Eastern
Samar. Copies of the book
have since been distributed to provincial governors, members of the House of
Representatives and the Senate, technical staff of the HOR committees on
poverty alleviation, rural development, Millennium Development Goals, and
people’s participation; and members of the Cabinet, among others.
1.5.6
The Pro-poor Policy
Database project aims to provide the NAPC Secretariat with a web-based database
of pro-poor legislations and other policies.
As planned, the database would indicate their content and progress along
the policy development and legislative process. The database has been developed
and installed in the NAPC, and is due to be fully commissioned in 2008.
1.5.7
The Review and
revision of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Social Reform and
Poverty Alleviation Act (RA 8425) project involves the conduct of a workshop
among NAPC’s government agency and basic sector representatives to finalize the
final draft of the revised IRR prior to the review and approval of the NAPC en
banc. Originally scheduled in the second
week of December 2007, the workshop has been moved to January 2008.
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MAJOR FINAL OUTPUT #2:
ADVOCACY, NETWORKING AND
PARTNERSHIP-BUILDING
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2.1
Institutionalization, mainstreaming and localization
of convergence approaches at the regional and local government systems
The Secretariat’s Localization Unit (LU) continues to
liaise with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) offices in 16
regions of the country. The NEDA field
offices serve as the secretariat of the Regional KALAHI Convergence Groups, the
offices of the different Presidential Assistants, the offices of the provincial
governors, district representatives and local government units (LGUs) in matters pertaining to poverty alleviation
and the convergence of resources for pro-poor efforts.
2.1.1
In January 2007,
the NAPC Secretariat and the Luzon Urban Beltway (LUB), an ad hoc office of the
Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council (SCADC), initiated an Anti-Poverty
Summit in Clark, Pampanga to renew partnerships among various government
agencies, the basic sectors, private business and non-government organizations
(NGOs) involved in the drive to improve the quality of life of the Filipino
poor. Within three (3) weeks of the Summit’s adjournment, this renewal of partnerships was
transformed into a program to mobilize the private sector and civil society
behind the national effort to combat hunger and poverty.
In coordination with NAPC, the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) provided livelihood training courses
on basic reflexology, cellphone repair, basic haircutting and cosmetology,
waitering, aromatherapy, liquid soap and fabric conditioner-making, throw
pillow/rug-making, automotive mechanics, refrigerator and air conditioning
servicing, to name a few.
To ensure the availability of capital required to set-up
household/home-based income-generating projects, the project team identified
microfinance institutions (MFIs) operating within the vicinity of target
communities.
Microfinance orientations—covering an overview of the
government’s microfinance program and a presentation of various products and
services offered by participating MFIs—were conducted in these target sites to
facilitate the development of microenterprises.
Microfinance orientations have been conducted in Parola, Tondo and Sitio
Sto. Nino, Navotas, allowing around 120 poor residents to avail of microfinance
services.
Splash Foundation, Flying V, Rotary International and
the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) provided cash and/or
in-kind assistance and opened employment opportunities to unemployed community
members who participated in the training activities.
2.1.2
NAPC, in
partnership with the LUB coordinating agency and the private sector,
spearheaded the Ugnayan Laban sa
Kahirapan (Ugnayan) program—a quick response social infrastructure program
targeting identified poor communities in Metro Manila. The program was conceived to match and
complement the Arroyo Administration’s Super Regions Hard Infrastructure
Program. The Ugnayan program is designed to encourage self-employment and
establish small enterprise development networks that are managed and operated
by the poor.
As part of the initial launch of the program, the agency wrote referral letters to, and coordinated
with, agencies concerned with the problems of target communities such as the
Department of Energy (DOE) and the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) for the
electrification services; the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and
the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) for the provision of potable water
and sanitation systems; the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation
(PAGCOR) for medical, dental and surgical missions; the National Housing
Authority (NHA) to respond to problems on housing and resettlement; the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the establishment of
day care centers; and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for
financial assistance (medication and hospitalization), to name a few.
The depressed areas that have benefited from Ugnayan activities include: Smokey
Mountain, Baseco, Parola and Sitio Damayan in Tondo, Manila; Barangay 310,
Claro M. Recto, Manila; Barangay Tanza, Navotas, Malabon; Lupang Pangako,
Payatas, Quezon City; Soldiers’ Resettlement, Taguig City; Pasay City; Pasig
City; Bagong Silang; Towerville Housing, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan;
Kasiglahan and Suburban Villages in Rodriguez, Rizal.
The NAPC Secretariat intends to expand the program in
2008, bringing the same services to more poor communities in the National
Capital Region (NCR), LGUs within the AHMP priority provinces, as well as 5th
and 6th class municipalities requiring immediate assistance.
Based on a rapid assessment conducted in select LGUs,
UGNAYAN activities will be carried out in close collaboration with concerned
community leaders (both formal and informal) and LGUs, in coordination with the
Regional KALAHI Convergence Groups (RKCGs) in 15 of 17 regions, and in
partnership with private sector organizations like Flying V, Rotary Club, San
Miguel Corporation and similar organizations, as well as with the LUB
Secretariat and the People’s Government Mobile Action (PGMA) Team.
2.1.3
Similarly, PGMA Unity Caravans were launched in 27
priority areas. On the first semester of the year, the first 11 areas were
covered. Seven in CALABARZON, two in Region III, and two in the National
Capital Region. On the second half of the year, 16 areas were covered all over
CARAGA, Region V, and NCR.
2.1.4
The Secretariat
supported and actively participated in the Convergence for Human Security and
Peace Workshop (CHASE-PEACE) organized by the Office of the Presidential
Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) with funding support from the United
Nations Development Programme-Conflict Prevention and Peace-Building Programme
(UNDP-CPPP).
2.1.5
Broadly, the
National-Regional KALAHI Convergence Workshop shall seek to revitalize the
operational linkage the between the NKCG, on the one hand, and the RKCG, on the
other. Specifically, it seeks: to orient the RKCG and the NKCG members on the
development thrusts and programs of the current NAPC leadership; to identify
problems, issues and concerns that face, either singly or jointly, the Regional
and National Kalahi Convergence
Groups in relation to supporting these thrusts and programs; to foster
knowledge and understanding among the NKCG members of the unique problems,
issues and concerns faced by each of the RKCG, and generate institutional
responses for them; and to generate a joint RCKG and NCKG plan of action for
2008 and beyond in support of the NAPC thrusts and programs and the regional
problems and issues and concerns.
Originally scheduled in the second week of December 2007, it has been
postponed to January 2008.
2.1.6
In the Christmas
season of 2007, President Gloria Macapagal–Arroyo encouraged all NGAs with
high-impact programs and projects towards the reduction of poverty to intensify
efforts towards the delivery of such services and assistance in impoverished areas
/ provinces around the country. As such,
the NAPC Secretariat was responsible for bringing together these high-impact
programs and projects toward the goal of “making the effects of economic growth
trickle down to the grassroots level”.
Dubbed as the “Pamaskong
Handog ni Pgma”, the entire
package of programs were implemented with the NAPC Secretariat as the central
coordinating body between and among agencies concerned, and the DSWD (through
its regional offices) as the agency which identified the beneficiaries in the
selected areas. The areas and provinces
that benefited from the program include: Masbate, Camarines Norte, Camarines
Sur, Cebu, Mt. Province, Tanay in Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga
Sibugay, Pampanga, Laguna, Pasay, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Taguig,
Manila, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Sur, Camarines Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao
del Norte, Biliran, Samar, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Marinduque, Romblon, Mindoro
Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Sarangani, Antique, Sultan Kudarat, Palawan, Maguindanao,
Lanao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Bukidnon, Kalinga, and Abra.
The NAPC Secretariat coordinated the schedules of the
distributing officials (including changes herein) in each of the areas
identified by the President, and ensured the gift-giving activities in these communities
in coordination with the regional offices of the DSWD.
2.2
Undertake continuing dialogue and networking
activities with ASEAN and other bilateral partners/associations
2.2.1
Attendance and
active participation in meetings of the Technical Board for Functional
Cooperation of the Philippine Council for ASEAN and APEC Cooperation (PCAAC-TBFC)
on the drafting of the ASEAN Charter.
2.2.2 The regional
conferences and meetings attended by the NAPC Lead Convenor and/or his
designated representatives this year include the 5th ASEAN Meeting
for Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (5th AMRDPE) in
Thailand, the 6th Poverty and
Economic Policy Network General Meeting in Peru; the 3rd
Coordinating Conference for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCCOM) in
Indonesia; and the 4th Session on Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Committee on Poverty Reduction.
2.3 Ensuring
that pro-poor goals/targets pursuant to the 10-point agenda and the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) are achieved, including access to potable water and
sanitation
Since the launch of the P3W in 2005, the Water and
Sanitation Coordinating Office (WASCO), under the supervision of the NAPC Lead
Convenor, has overseen the discharge of the program, which aims to increase
service coverage in identified 432 “waterless” municipalities outside Metro
Manila and 210 communities located in 105 barangays within Metro Manila through
improved potable water supply and sanitation services.
To date, the government has invested a cumulative
total of Php1.5 billion for P3W. As of
December 2007, these investments had produced some 1,343 water systems (Level 1
system = 656; Level 2 system = 687) serving some previously unserved or
underserved communities covering 1,644 barangays with approximately 176,837
households in 206 municipalities (out of the target 432 waterless
municipalities outside Metro Manila) and 17 cities throughout the country.
As part of an effort toward improved monitoring and
equitable allocation of funding resources, the NAPC Secretariat prepared a Water
Access Classification, showing the location and level of access of water supply
and sanitation facilities in target communities.
The agency intends to closely follow the progress of remaining
waterworks started under the P3W as it increases its efforts to bring potable
water and adequate sanitation facilities to a greater number of Filipino
communities nationwide.
2.4
Expanding microfinance services, capability-building
of micro-finance institutions (MFIs) and clients, and bridging microfinance
enterprise and small-medium enterprises (SMEs)
At present, over three (3) million clients avail of
microfinance services from banks, cooperatives, or non-government organizations
(NGOs). Almost Php75 billion worth of
microfinance loans have been released between July 2004 and the present. These loans have provided employment to more
than 1.3 million poor Filipinos involved in the operation of microenterprises.
2.4.1
The
Philippine Microfinance Literacy Program. With support from the Asian
Development Bank (ADB), and in partnership with major stakeholders in the
microfinance industry, the NAPC Secretariat, the National Credit Council of the
Department of Finance (DOF-NCC), and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
developed the Philippine Microfinance Literacy Program (PMLP). The program aims to institutionalize the
delivery of financial education to the poor, focusing on critical interventions
for the various stakeholders of the microfinance sector, as embodied in three
(3) core strategies: (a) developing financial education tools and standards;
(b) establishing linkages to implement financial literacy training; and (c)
heightening social marketing on financial literacy.
Two multi-stakeholder consultations on the
development of the PMLP’s framework and implementation strategies were held on 26 April 2007 at the Secretariat office in Quezon City and on 7 June 2007 at the Legend Villas in Mandaluyong City.
The program was launched on 22 October 2007 at the
BSP Executive Business Center in Manila with the theme: “Financial Literacy: Widening Inroads to Microfinance” and was well
attended by officials and representatives of the line agencies and government
financing institutions (GFIs), microfinance institutions (MFIs), academic and
training institutions and the basic sectors.
Under a technical assistance grant from the Asian
Development Bank (ADB), seven (7) modules on financial literacy, including two
(2) special sections were developed: Module 1—Microfinance: Basic Concepts and
Practices, Module 2—Budgeting and Planning, Module 3—Savings, Investment and Microinsurance,
Module 4—Roles and Responsibilities of Clients in the Use of Credit, Module
5—Consumer Protection, Special Section #1—Business Development Services and
Improving Your Business Tips and Special Section #2—Adult Learning Techniques
and Facilitation Tips.
The same technical assistance also provided support
for the conduct of seven (7) Training of Trainers (TOTs) on Financial Literacy
that will cover nine (9) priority regions, 38 priority provinces identified
under the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program (AHMP) and unserved
microfinance areas. To date, TOTs have
been successfully conducted in Clark, Pampanga for the National Capital Region
(NCR) and in General Santos City, South
Cotabato for Regions XII
(SOCCKSARGEN) and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). A total of 50 participants, representing 36
institutions have been trained using the financial literacy training modules
aforementioned.
2.4.2
The Peoples’
Development Trust Fund (PDTF). The PDTF was primarily established to develop
and strengthen institutions involved in providing microfinance services to the
poor. The Secretariat’s Microfinance
Unit (MFU) works in close collaboration with the Peoples’ Credit and Finance
Corporation (PCFC), which is the designated administrator of the Fund.
The PDTF presently has Php100 million in trust from
the National Livelihood Support Fund (NLSF).
As of the 3rd quarter of 2007, the fund had earned a total
investment income of Php24.88 million, of which Php9.5 million, representing
the cost of funds, was remitted to NLSF.
The net proceeds available for utilization amount to Php15.59 million,
of which Php11.47 million is available for grant funding of capacity-building
of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and microfinance beneficiaries, among others,
and Php3.86 million for administration and monitoring expenses of the PCFC and
the NAPC Secretariat.
The total approved capacity-building grants have thus
far amounted to Php 0.82 million.
Ø
The grant funds
given to the Lakambini Microenterprise Development Center (LMEDC) were used to
establish community-based business centers and deliver capacity-building
services in the areas of marketing assistance and savings mobilization.
Ø
The approved
project for the Samar Center for Rural Education (SACRED) involved the organizational empowerment of
its microfinance centers.
Ø
The KFI Center for Community Development Foundation (KCCDFI) was
able to conduct a strategic planning workshop to support its direction of
improving the quality of life of enterprising women in hard-to-reach areas of Mindanao.
On 22 September 2007, the agency conducted a “Workshop for the
Development of a Country Framework for Capacity-building in Microfinance”. The aim was to generate inputs on
capacity-building interventions and enhance the proposed Capacity-building
Framework for Microfinance. Workshop
participants formulated appropriate strategies and identified priority areas in
order to maximize the use of the PDTF resources for grant funding and elicit
additional sources for the augmentation of the fund.
2.4.3
Microfinance
in Frontier Areas. Since the second semester of 2005, the NAPC Microfinance
Unit (MFU) has implemented a project called “Enhancing Access of the Poor to
Microfinance Services in Frontier Areas” through a technical assistance grant
from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Early this year, the MFU completed the final narrative report on the
various activities undertaken, which included, the conduct of the MFI and
client surveys, the development of training and education materials, onsite
training MFI personnel operating in
frontiers areas, and the conduct of microfinance educational seminars for the
poor and the basic sectors.
The agency successfully determined the training needs
of MFIs and MF clients in the frontier areas through the ADB’s technical
assistance (TA No.4544). MFIs need capacity
enhancement in the areas of financial management, delinquency collection and
management, internal control and audit, accounting and records-keeling, credit
management, branch outreach management and gender issues. Aside from the need to address economic
constraints in the operation of microenterprises, most MF clients require
business development services to include basic management skills, bookkeeping
and accounting, developing market share, business plan preparation and other
related skills.
2.4.4
Piloting the
Portfolio Quality, Efficiency, Sustainability and Outreach
(PESO) Performance Standards among MFIs. Structural and operational
modification in the operations of partner MFIs included the collection of past
due accounts, provision of loan loss reserves, reduction of administrative
costs, identification of unserved areas for expansion, setting-up internal
control measures and management information systems, development of new and
innovative microfinance products, and adoption of the PESO as both a
performance standard and a management tool.
2.4.5
Consumer
Protection in Microfinance. Through the MFU, the Secretariat spearheaded
the promotion of consumer protection in microfinance with the development
reference materials on consumer protection for microfinance clients and
practitioners and the establishment of an on-line system for filing consumer
complaints.
In consultation with concerned regulatory
institutions and microfinance stakeholders, the Consumer Protection Guidebook
was produced as a compilation of legal, regulatory and institutional policies
on consumer protection as it relates to microfinance. The guidebook provides microfinance institutions,
microfinance clients, microfinance practitioners and regulators with relevant
information that will help them make informed decisions in pursuing not only
the protection of users but also the integrity of service providers and the
financial stability of the microfinance sector.
The NAPC website at www.napc.gov.ph now features an online facility for microfinance-related
consumer complaints (e.g., grievances regarding financial products and
services, insurance and other non-financial services, and corporate practices
related to microfinance). These
complaints will be processed by the Secretariat and transmitted to concerned
regulatory institutions for appropriate action.
2.4.6
Business
Development Services (BDS). The conduct of focused group discussions
(FGDs) with microfinance institutions and clients in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao revealed the need for business development services for
microentrepreneurs. While there is no
hard and fast rule in the provision of BDS, complementation of services and
linkages with service providers clearly emerged as the key to ensuring greater
impact, outreach, sustainability and cost effectiveness of BDS.
A Guide for the Provision of Business Development
Services for Microfinance Institutions was developed to help MFIs choose
appropriate strategies to improve the access of their clients to BDS and at the
same time ensure the provision of sustainable financial services. It also served as a reference on available
BDS of existing providers for MFIs and their clients.
2.4.7
Partnership-building
in Microfinance.
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The Microfinance Program Committee (MFPC),
chaired by the Peoples’ Credit and Finance Corporation (PCFC), serves as a
clearinghouse for the government’s microfinance program, undertakes
microfinance-related policy review and recommendations, monitors program
accomplishments, serves as a venue for addressing issues and concerns on
wholesaling of microfinance funds, and consolidates reports of microfinance
wholesalers (i.e., updates on microfinance program accomplishments).
The
Committee has initiated a partnership with Globe Telecoms to activate the Micro
Asenso! text service facility. Microentrepreneurs can now find microfinance
institutions in their province, town or city via text.
Information
and communication materials were developed and distributed by the MFPC to
advocate for increased access of the poor to microfinance services. IEC
materials that were produced and disseminated include the directory of
microfinance institutions operating in NCR, leaflets and posters promoting the
Globe text service, and Micro Asenso car bumper stickers.
w
NAPC is a member
of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise
(MSME) Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee’s Technical Working Group on
Finance, along with other government financing institutions (GFIs) and line
agencies involved in the delivery of microfinance services.
On May 2007, the Committee, along with the Philippine
Center for Entrepreneurship, its private sector partner, launched the
Livelihood Financing Facility for Government Employees. This lending facility
aims to provide government employees, through their cooperatives and employee
associations, access to the funds of GFIs to finance their livelihood projects or
those of their families.
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In June 2007,
the Secretariat participated in the Strategic Planning Workshop for National
and Local Partners of the Gender
Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women (GREAT Women)
in Antipolo City. The workshop produced an agency plan to
ensure the integration of the concept of women’s economic empowerment in
existing policies, programs and services.
The Secretariat, through the MFU, submitted two (2) project proposals
for possible funding under the GREAT Women Project.
2.5
Consensus-building and strong partnership of
government, civil society organizations (CSOs), private sector/business towards
poverty reduction and rights-based reforms to ensure effective and sustainable
use of natural and ecological resource base
2.5.1
The NAPC
Secretariat: (1) monitored and validated the implementation of the
provincial/city/municipal hunger mitigation action plans in the priority
provinces of the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program (AHMP); (2) developed
and facilitated the convergence and harmonization of the national and local
Anti-Hunger Mitigation Programs through coordinative and collaborative
mechanisms at the local levels to hasten the implementation of local hunger
mitigation program plans; (3) promoted increased public awareness and
understanding of the AHMP, its implementation and accomplishments.
2.5.2
Active participation
as member of the Minerals Development Council (MDC), Working Group on
Information and Communication, to discuss and find ways to respond to emerging
national and local issues related to mining.
2.5.3
The NAPC
Secretariat attended and actively participated as resource person in the
following inter-agency discussions:
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DATES
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PARTICULARS
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30 March 2007
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“Assembly of
Communities”—3rd Roundtable Discussion on Social Protection in the
Philippines, organized by International Center for Innovation, Transformation
and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov) and the University of the
Philippines’ College of Social Work and Community Development (UP-CSWCD)
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|
11, 20 April 2007
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Joint ExeCom, Technical
Committee and Convenors’ Meetings and other workshops on labor relations,
human relations and education and training in preparation for the 2007
National Human Resource Conference, organized by the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE)
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25 April 2007
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2007 National Human
Resource Conference
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5 July 2007
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Post-2007 National Human
Resource Conference activities called by the DOLE to flesh out the next steps
on the action agenda presented to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the
Manila Hotel in 25 April 2007
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10 July 2007
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Forum on the results of
the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) organized by the
Chamber of Mines of the Philippines
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7 September
2007
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Technical Consultation on
the Framework for Formulating a NAPC Plan of Action for Equity and Pro-poor
Growth
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21 September
2007
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Orientation on NAPC for
students of the U.P. College of Social Work and Community Development
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24 September
2007
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National Consultation on
ASEAN Migrant Workers
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25 September and 5 October 2007
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Meeting on “Embedding
Conflict Sensitivity and Peace Promoting Planning” spearheaded by the Office
of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
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12 October
2007
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Forum on Rural Poverty:
Towards the Second National Rural Congress organized by the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
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22 November
2007
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Forum entitled “Convergence
of Peoples’ Organizations in the National Capital Region (NCR) in Addressing
Social Welfare and Development Concerns” organized by the Department of
Social Welfare and Development
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2.6
Strengthening of institutional arrangements and
partnerships among stakeholders, as well as organizational capacities in social
reform and poverty reduction
2.6.1
The
Secretariat’s Basic Sector Unit (BSU) coordinated and facilitated the conduct
of 39 sectoral council meetings, 10 inter-agency meetings between the basic
sectors and their lead/partner agencies, 5 basic sector for a, and 6 regional
consultation meetings, two of which focused on the information drive on
Administrative Order No. 187, series of 2007.
2.6.2
The BSU also
liaised with national and local government agencies towards more meaningful and
continuous dialogues regarding sectoral issues, queries and requests in the
pursuit of poverty alleviation and mitigation of hunger at the grassroots
level.
2.6.3
The Forum on
Poverty Reduction Agenda for Legislators involved the conduct of a forum to
present and generate support to the pro-poor legislative agenda of the basic
sectors, as affirmed by the NAPC. The
forum was conducted with the participation of 39 members of the House of
Representatives and 57 technical staff from the four committees in the House of
Representatives whose mandates are closely linked to NAPC’s. These committees
are on poverty alleviation, rural
development, people’s participation and Millennium Development Goals. The participants also came from among the
legislators representing the 10 priority poor provinces, and neophytes in the
House. During the forum, a “Covenant of
Partnership” on NAPC’s pro-poor agenda was signed.
2.7
Strengthening of the NAPC Public Affairs and Social
Marketing
2.7.1
NAPC commenced a
yearlong public information campaign even as it undertook aggressive social
marketing and community relations activities in Ugnayan beneficiary communities.
While the NAPC Public Information Bureau began official
operations in January of 2007, the core personnel of the office had started
issuing press releases and arranging press conference for the agency since late
October of 2006. These stories and press releases ran under the “New Challenge”
theme, which became the subject of a number of news stories and print
editorials.
In late March, NAPC officials met with information
officers from other agencies to consolidate government media and public
information efforts. A number of government offices consequently began to coordinate
with the agency, sending their press releases for editing, re-writing and
dissemination.
These agencies included – but were not limited to –
Department of Health (DOH), Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council
(HUDCC), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National
Nutrition Council (NNC), Department of Education (Dep Ed), and Department of
Energy (DOE).
The agency then began to issue press and photo
releases that highlighted the government’s anti-poverty programs, all of which
saw extensive reportage in the print and broadcast media. The bureau likewise
arranged press conferences and television and radio interviews. A regular radio
plug arrangement with DZRH was also finalized.
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MAJOR FINAL OUTPUT #3.
COORDINATION, MONITORING AND
EVALUATION SERVICES
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3.1 Improvement,
integration, dissemination of program monitoring database, poverty indicators
databases and other tools/mechanisms
3.1.1
The agency, in
coordination with other authorities, developed a prototype anti-poverty program
monitoring database called “Enhanced Integrated Monitoring System for
Anti-Poverty Programs and Projects (E-IMSAPP) 2004. The system was pilot launched in 2005. Full (and continuing) operations of this
system, which aims to capture input, output, process and outcome information on
all government anti-poverty programs and projects (APPs), came to a standstill
in the second half of 2006 until 2007 as a majority of the national government
agencies failed to submit substantive information on their APPs.
The Secretariat’s Management Information System (MIS)
has conceptualized a series of activities for 2008. The said activities are designed to enjoin
NGAs to designate E-IMSAPP focal persons who will work on reviving the
E-IMSAPP, which will now be integrated into the poverty indicators database
discussed earlier (CBMS including 13+1 core local poverty indicators).
3.1.2 The
Secretariat’s Management Information System (MIS) Unit, in coordination with
the United Nations Development Program Project Management Office (UNDP-PMO), is
spearheading a policy database project that will monitor the programs of
poverty reduction related laws passed in Congress.
3.1.3 The
MPU-MIS has crafted the Secretariat’s Information System Security Program
(ISSP) plan to guide the agency in realigning its information technology (IT)
processes. The ISSP is scheduled for
submission to the National Computer Center (NCC) for review and approval.
3.2 Poverty data collection, analysis and
utilization
3.2.1
The NAPC
Secretariat coordinated with the Commission on Human Rights on the mapping of
government agencies vis-à-vis the state’s obligations on the Right to Food.
3.2.2
The agency continues
to develop and maintain a reviewed databank of poverty-related statistics and
reference materials for use of the Secretariat, government agencies and the
general public. These include national
government agencies’ updates/accomplishments in implementing major anti-poverty
programs and projects in line with the five (5) core poverty reduction
strategies of asset reform, livelihood and employment, human development
services, social protection, and empowerment of the vulnerable sectors.
