The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) on Tuesday said it expects at least 2,000 urban poor representatives to attend today’s closing of its first biggest event, the Urban Poor Solidarity Week (UPSW), at the City College of Mandaluyong in Mandaluyong City.
With the theme “Ika-36 na Taon ng Pinag-ibayong Serbisyo Tungo sa Pagbangon ng Maralitang Pilipino: Pusong PBBM, Pusong Pilipino,” the UPSW celebration is in line with the mandate of the PCUP in reaching out to the country’s marginalized and underprivileged sector, and bring them closer to the care of government.
The agency’s chairman and chief executive officer, Undersecretary Elpidio Jordan Jr. said the week-long celebration marks its unwavering support to the Marcos administration’s poverty alleviation program aimed to uplift the lives of the urban poor.
“This is our way of showing how government under the leadership of our beloved President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. is dedicated to serving the public through selfless efforts of bringing the people closer and accessible to much-needed services that would pave the way for improvements in their lives and making them feel they are not being abandoned by their leaders,” he said.
The Mandaluyong City government is hosting the UPSW celebration through the initiative of Mayor Benjamin Abalos Sr., who vowed to support the PCUP in its programs and projects for the welfare and benefit of the urban poor and informal settler families.
According to Jordan, today’s event would not only mark the celebration of a strong relationship between the government and the poor but would also be remembered for the awarding of the Natatanging Lingkod Maralita Award to the urban poor organizations and local government units as well as to their leaders.
The PCUP would also launch its four banner programs for implementation in 2023.