Misamis Oriental province aims to reduce poverty by 10 percent over the next three years, emphasizing the importance of improved program implementation, an official said Thursday.

During the regional technical working group (TWG) meeting here, Board Member Princess Emano said the province is targeting at least 10,000 families to overcome poverty by 2028.

“Hitting the 10 percent target by 2028 is achievable through effort, giving, and providing extra services to the people,” she said.

Emano stated that, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the reduction rate as of 2023 was 15.5 percent.

She also noted that in the province, those experiencing poverty are farmers who often fall victim to “middlemen” who earn more than they do in the buying and selling of produce.

A 2021 report from the Philippine Statistics Authority indicated that Misamis Oriental’s poverty incidence among families was 19 percent.

The TWG meeting was led by the National Anti-Poverty Commission, where Secretary Lope Santos III said the current administration is working to achieve a single-digit poverty incidence nationwide.

Santos also said that the Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan, to be created by respective local governments, will be instrumental in identifying community-based initiatives. (PNA)