Pacquiao's desire to help people a factor in NAPC chief appointment- Palace

Malacañang on Wednesday said one of the factors why former senator Manny Pacquiao was named Secretary and lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) was his desire to help people in marginalized sectors.

“Alam naman po natin na si dating senador Manny Pacquiao ay kung papaano siya nakasalumuha ng ibang mga kababayan natin na nasa laylayan ng lipunan. Alam natin kung papaano siya dumamay sa ating mga kababayan. Kumbaga nandoon na ‘yung ang kanyang mithiin, ang kanyang damdamin na tumulong sa nasa ilalim nga ng lipunan,” said Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro.

(We know how former senator Manny Pacquiao was able to reach out to our countrymen who are on the fringes of society. We know how he sympathizes with our countrymen. He has a desire to help the marginalized.)

“Siguro doon nanggagaling ang dahilan kung bakit siya ang nai-appoint sa nasabing posisyon dahil nakikita natin na ang pagtulong ni Senator Manny Pacquiao sa ating mga kababayan ay nanggagaling sa kanyang puso, sa kanyang magandang mithiin,” she added.

(Maybe that’s the reason why he was appointed to the said position because we see that the intention of former Senator Manny Pacquiao to help our countrymen comes from his heart, from his good intentions.)

Pacquiao formally took his oath as NAPC chief on Tuesday, with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. leading the ceremony.

Castro said there is no information as to why former NAPC lead convenor Lope Santos III was replaced by Pacquiao.

Asked if Santos resigned, the Palace official said, “Mamaya makikipag-coordinate po ako kung anong dahilan. Pero walang nabanggit na negatibo sa parte po ni dating Secretary Santos.”

(I will coordinate later to find out the reason. But there was nothing negative mentioned regarding former Secretary Santos.)

The Palace said Marcos expressed confidence in Pacquiao’s leadership as the administration seeks to intensify its efforts to address poverty, advance social reforms, and bring government programs and services closer to communities nationwide.

Under Republic Act 8425, or the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act, Marcos serves as chairman of the NAPC, while its lead convenor oversees daily operations, inter-agency convergence and engagement with the country’s 14 basic sectors.

The sectors include farmers and landless rural workers, artisanal fisherfolk, formal labor and migrant workers, informal sector workers, Indigenous Peoples and cultural communities, women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, victims of calamities and disasters, youth and students, children, the urban poor, cooperatives, and nongovernment organizations. —RF, GMA News