SENATE, Pasay City — Underscoring how basic sector representation has taken a more prominent role in forming anti-poverty policy recommendations and governance the initiatives of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Senator Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios ‘Imee’ Marcos defended the proposed ₱140-million increase in the NAPC’s 2025 budget while citing the agency’s efficient fund utilization.

Addressing her colleagues at the NAPC budget hearing, Marcos praised the agency’s accomplishments under the leadership of its secretary, prominent grammarian Lope Santos III, whom the lady senator described as her childhood friend.

The chairman of the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development introduced the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) during the Senate plenary deliberations and here she highlighted how NAPC has made great strides in forming anti-poverty policy recommendations and governance under the leadership of Santos.

“After several years, NAPC now conducts regular sectoral council meetings, capacity building and orientation for the basic sectors, and different dialogues, including the National Sectoral Assemblies, which was held last year,” Marcos pointed out.

In response to Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III’s inquiry regarding the increased funding for NAPC, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s sister explained that although the NAPC’s budget was previously slashed due to underperformance, it is about time to increase it because of the gains it has accomplished in the performance of its mandate.

Despite this, however, it must be noted that the 2025 National Expenditure Plan has placed the agency’s budget at ₱363.4 million, reflecting a 63 percent increase or ₱140 million more compared to the 2024 allocation.