Baricuatro creates anti-poverty body

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has issued an executive order creating the Provincial Poverty Reduction Action Committee (PRAC), a body designed to strengthen participatory governance in the fight against poverty.

- Jonnavie Villa/FPL

BARICUATRO

The EO establishes the PRAC as the primary provincial-level mechanism that will guide planning, coordination, and monitoring of poverty reduction efforts in Cebu.

It is anchored on national and local policies that promote inclusive development and citizen participation.

Baricuatro said the creation of the committee aligns with the State's policy of adopting a participatory, transparent, and accountable approach to poverty reduction, particularly through the engagement of civil society organizations (CSOs) and basic sector representatives.

The executive order cites Joint Memorandum Circular No. 001, Series of 2025, issued by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which provides updated guidelines for strengthening Local Poverty Reduction Action Committees (LPRACs) across the country.

It also draws authority from the Local Government Code of 1991, which mandates local government units to promote the general welfare and uphold the people's right to take part in governance.