The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) inaugurated on Thursday its Cagayan Valley Regional Coordinating Office (RCO), marking a major step toward bringing anti-poverty programs closer to the region’s grassroots communities.

The inauguration of the Cagayan Valley RCO is part of the NAPC’s broader strategy to localize its anti-poverty framework and enhance public service delivery in underserved regions under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

In a news release, NAPC Secretary Lope Santos III underscored the importance of decentralizing government efforts to eradicate poverty.

The NAPC aims to ensure that voices from the grassroots are heard and that its programs truly respond to the needs of the poor, he said.

The new RCO reflects NAPC’s commitment to strengthen local engagement, policy advocacy, and coordination with basic sectors.

It is located at the NERBAC building within the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 2 Compound in Tuguegarao City.

It is set to serve as a hub for the implementation and coordination of poverty alleviation initiatives across the region.

It will also support capacity-building activities, monitoring of poverty indicators, and collaboration with local government units and civil society organizations. (PNA)