Contributed photo.
PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN — The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) on Saturday conducted consultation dialogues with urban poor communities in Barangays Corong-Corong and Bucana.
More than a hundred community representatives and Indigenous Peoples leaders attended the activity and expressed appreciation for the government visit, which coincided with the founding anniversary of Barangay Corong-Corong.
PCUP Commissioner Reynaldo Galupo first held discussions in Puerto Princesa with former provincial board member David Bon Ponce De Leon and “Batang Atleta” founder James Lagan before traveling by land to El Nido, where he was met by Vice Mayor Joel Rosento.
The delegation made the roughly five-hour trip to reach the northern Palawan town for the community consultations.
Batang Atleta, a non-government organization focused on sports development, had earlier visited Galupo’s office and sought a dialogue with local leaders to help communities access livelihood programs from government agencies partnered with PCUP.
A community leader, Ariel ———, president of Samahan ng mga Mangingisda sa Corong-Corong, said the visit helped strengthen their engagement with government services.
“Iba po kasi pag inendorso kami ng PCUP sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno. Malaking bagay po ang pagbisita ni Commissioner Galupo at ang pakikipagdayalogo nya sa amin,” he said.
Galupo said the agency’s mandate includes establishing consultation mechanisms that allow dialogue between government and urban poor communities in planning and evaluating programs affecting them.
He said some areas in Palawan’s tourism hub still require government attention despite ongoing assistance from agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, while others are seeking access to livelihood programs under the Department of Labor and Employment.
He added that a meeting with DOLE-Palawan Director Engr. Rhea Paitan was scheduled on May 7, along with separate engagements with Puerto Princesa Vice Mayor Jimbo Maristela and Palawan Vice Governor Leoncio Ola.
Galupo also said at least 56 livelihood beneficiaries in Cebu and Talisay are set to receive assistance on Monday under a program coordinated with DOLE-Region VII.
He said the second tranche of livelihood support, discussed previously with DOLE-Region VII Director Atty. Roy Buenafe, will eventually benefit about 100 families.