Marcos appoints Pacquiao as anti-poverty commission lead

After transferring administrative supervision of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) back to the Office of the President, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. appointed former senator and boxing icon Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao as the lead convenor and secretary of the NAPC, marking his return to public service four years after leaving the senate.

Officially taking his oath under The President on Tuesday, September 8, Pacquiao replaced Lope Santos III, who had served as the NAPC lead convenor since 2023.

“His appointment is very timely now that the administration is pushing for further reduction of poverty incidence and the NAPC with the right direction could help more to achieve the poverty reduction efforts,” Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Secretary Larry Gadon said, welcoming the former senator’s appointment.

The NAPC, created under the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act (Republic Act No. 8425), coordinates poverty reduction programs among government agencies and the private sector, monitoring their implementation, recommending policy measures, and ensuring the participation of basic sectors in policymaking.

Additionally, under the act, the NAPC lead convenor serves as head of commission with the rank of Cabinet secretary, making Pacquiao a Cabinet official. 

“Sa kahirapan doon ako galing. Naranasan ko matulog sa karton sa kalsada, uminom lang ng tubig, walang makain at mag-ipon ng barya para lang makatulong sa pamilya. Kaya ang puso ko, naroroon talaga sa mga kababayan nating naghihirap,” Pacquiao said, tying his new position with his personal experience with poverty.

(I came from poverty. I experienced sleeping on cardboard on the streets, only drinking water with nothing to eat, and saving coins just to help my family. That is why my heart is truly with our fellow Filipinos who are struggling.)

Pacquiao clarified that his return to government was driven by public service, not politics, with the goal of ensuring that government programs reach the 14 basic sectors and the poorest Filipinos nationwide.

“Sa nakalipas na mga taon, may posisyon man ako sa gobyerno o wala, hinding-hindi ko itinigil ang pagtulong at pagpapatayo ng libreng pabahay para sa ating mga kababayan. Pero ngayong pinagkatiwalaan tayo sa NAPC, sa tulong ng Panginoon, mas malaki pa ang magagawa natin,” he expressed.

(In the past years, whether I held a position in government or not, I never stopped helping and building free housing for our fellow Filipinos. But now that we have been entrusted with the NAPC, with God’s help, we can do even more.)

Pacquiao’s team said the new NAPC lead convenor plans to hold nationwide grassroots consultations to help align inter-agency efforts with 24 government departments.