LP bets to face poor, vulnerable sectors

President Benigno S. Aquino III formally endorses Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II as the standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) in the 2016 Presidential elections during the “A Gathering of Friends” at the Cory C. Aquino Kalayaan Hall of the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City on Friday (July 31, 2015). (Photo by Gil Nartea/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA—Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas and running mate Leni Robredo will face the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Basic Sector Councils in a forum, “Panawagan para Lubusin ang mga Nasimulang Reporma” on Feb. 17, 2 p.m., at the Bahay ng Alumni, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

“While there have been forums organized by students, youth and business tycoons, there has been no forum yet organized by the poor and the marginalized,” says Ruperto Aleroza, NAPC vice chairperson for the Basic Sectors.

“No doubt, there is economic growth; but the poor has been left out,” Aleroza adds. “The government must provide avenues for meaningful participation of the basic sectors in policies, implementation of development projects and improving anti-poverty programs.”

Aleroza will present the New Social Contract of the NAPC Basic Sectors that identifies specific policy recommendations that they would want the next administration to address. The candidates will be given time to respond.

Expected participants are national and local leaders of people’s organizations, including the sectoral representatives of the 14 Basic Sectors who were appointed by President Aquino last year.

The NAPC Basic Sectors represent the: Farmers and Landless Rural Workers, Artisanal Fisherfolk, Indigenous People, Urban Poor, Women, Formal Labor and Migrant Workers, Workers in the Informal Sector, Persons with Disabilities, Children, Youth and Students, Victims of Disasters and Calamities, Cooperatives, Non-Government Organizations, and Senior Citizens.