Alleviating poverty is one of the key steps to ensuring a life of quality and dignity for the impoverished sectors. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) recognizes the efforts of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and its partner agencies to continually address poverty and hunger through holistic, intergovernmental approach.

DSWD signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on 28 September 2021 with the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), National Housing Authority, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) for the implementation of three new major convergence projects under the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program. The program includes the EPAHP Resettlement Support, Gatasang Kalabaw Pilot Project, and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Gulayan sa Pamayanan Project.

It is notable that each program under EPAHP is tailor-fitted to specific underprivileged sectors. This helps ensure that the interventions genuinely respond to their specific situation and are appropriate to their context and background.

For low-income households in resettlement areas, the EPAHP Resettlement Support aims to provide a source of income to improve their capacity to afford food and other basic needs. For farmers and members of community-based organizations, the Kabuhayan sa Gatasang Kalabaw aims to provide them with additional income by increasing the volume of locally produced milk that can be supplied to the National Feeding Program. For 4Ps households in the National Capital Region, the 4Ps Gulayan sa Pamayanan is designed to provide immediate healthy food source and livelihood while nurturing bayanihan spirit in the community.

During this period of health and economic crisis, aggressive efforts to support families who fell deeper into poverty cannot be overemphasized. The Commission recognizes and encourages continuous efforts to help empower poor Filipino families so they can meet their basic needs for health, food, nutrition, among others in these difficult times.

CHR is also hopeful that the convergence approach will help ensure holistic and long term results that will genuinely address the root causes of poverty and hunger. We look forward to more sustained support and inclusive programs from the government that will enable impoverished individuals to rise above their conditions; actively contribute in the process of recovery; and, live a dignified and empowered life. ###