The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) led the wreath-laying ceremony and caravan of services in the municipality of Anini-y to mark the National Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty in Antique province on Thursday. The wreath-laying was held before a replica of the commemorative stone marker or 'Bato ng Buhay' installed in Anini-y, a reminder of the continuing struggle to combat poverty. The commemorative stone marker was installed in Anini-y in recognition of the time it successfully reduced its poverty incidence by 25 percent in 2017. The poverty incidence further reduced to 22.11 percent in 2020 based on available data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. NAPC Local Affairs Coordinating and Monitoring Service Director III Alexis Lapiz attributed the decline to the convergence and alignment of programs and projects of the national government agencies and the local government unit with their monitoring and tracking system. 'Let us combat poverty through a whole-of-the-nation approach,' Lapiz s aid in his message during the program. Meanwhile, Mayor Maxfil Pollicar acknowledged the support of national government agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), for the gradual reduction of poverty incidence in their fourth-class municipality. 'We are grateful for the support of the national government agencies like the DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP),' he said. As of 2023, three associations - the San Roque Entrepreneurs, M and M Entrepreneurs, and Poblacion Livestock Farmers - were recipients of the SLP for their community store, school supplies merchandise, and broiler production projects totaling PHP780,000. Seven individuals engaged in various projects in barangays Lisub-A, San Francisco, Mabuyong, Bayo Pequeño, San Ramon, Salvacion, and Magdalena were beneficiaries of the SLP in the amount of PHP105,000. The Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) on Oct. 4 passed Ordinance 2024-21, declaring Oct. 17 of each year as the Municipal Day of Overcoming Extreme P overty in Anini-y. Meanwhile, national government agencies, such as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, and Social Security System presented their programs that are readily accessible to the basic sector, including farmers and fisherfolk, during the caravan of services. Source: Philippines News agency