Poverty is a pressing problem among millions of Filipinos, prompting the government to take comprehensive measures that could help uplift the lives of marginalized members of society.
However, the pandemic made it challenging to converge and engage the basic sectors due to several restraints and limitations. To address this concern, the National AntiPoverty Commission (NAPC) has come out with the Paaralang Bayan Online (PBO) information campaign.
PBO was designed to educate the public, specifically the NAPC Ka-Sambayanihan Volunteers, about the government’s current poverty alleviation programs and the agency’s ongoing projects and initiatives.
The online program provided knowledge and training to Ka-Sambayanihan volunteers so they could assist in monitoring and implementing poverty alleviation programs at the grassroots level.
PBO became a platform for the government agencies and the basic sectors through its program segments which air every Saturday at 2 PM via Facebook Live. The series is also uploaded on the Ka-Sambayanihan Volunteer’s official Youtube channel.
One of the most popular segments is Kalingang NAPC, hosted by Undersecretary Penelope Belmonte. It features issues facing the country’s poorest and underrepresented sectors such as farmers, fisherfolks, indigenous peoples, urban poor, women, children, people with disabilities, and victims of disaster and calamities.
Kalingang NAPC also visits communities and consults representatives of the basic sectors. At the same time, it meets with different national government agencies, the National Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster, and local government units to help improve the lives of impoverished Filipinos.
Other PBO segments are the Kasambayanihan News and Updates, 3S Orientation, NAPC Connects, NAPC Highlights, and the campaign’s namesake, Paaralang Bayan Online.
“We wanted to reach more people, especially the Ka-Sambanihan volunteers, barangay development councils, and local community organizers, so they can get information and updates on how to confront poverty,” said NAPC Secretary Noel K. Felongco.
He added: “We are glad to know that through Paaralang Bayan Online, we were able to strengthen the performance of community workers in addressing poverty nationwide despite the pandemic.”
PBO was anchored on the NAPC’s “Sambayanihan Serbisyong Sambayanan” (3S) framework and program of action. It aimed to carry out a climate-responsive, culture, conflict and gender-sensitive, and convergent and participatory anti-poverty strategy to attain the past administration’s poverty reduction target and contribute to the realization of AmBisyon Natin 2040.