By el Amigo
MANILA — Former senator and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is back in government after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. appointed him as lead convenor and secretary of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).
Pacquiao took his oath before Marcos at Malacañang on Tuesday, Sept. 8, with Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos present. He succeeds Lope Santos III.
Under Republic Act 8425, or the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act, the NAPC lead convenor heads the commission’s secretariat and holds the rank of a Cabinet secretary.
The NAPC serves as the government’s coordinating and advisory body for the implementation of the Social Reform Agenda. It works with national and local government agencies, as well as the private sector, in coordinating and monitoring poverty-reduction programs.
The commission is also tasked with recommending policies, assessing social reform initiatives and promoting the participation of basic sectors in government policymaking.
Pacquiao’s appointment marks his first government position since his Senate term ended in June 2022.
He sought the presidency in the 2022 elections, finishing third behind Marcos and then-Vice President Leni Robredo. In the 2025 midterm elections, Pacquiao attempted to return to the Senate but failed to secure one of the 12 available seats.
Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon welcomed the appointment, saying Pacquiao’s return comes at an important time as the administration intensifies efforts to reduce poverty.
“His appointment is very timely,” Gadon said, adding that the NAPC could help advance the government’s poverty-reduction agenda.
ia/xf
