MANILA, Philippines — Hours after announcing that President Rodrigo Duterte would abolish a government agency catering to the needs of the urban poor, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque backtracked and said that the chief executive only wanted to get rid of the agency’s officials.
“With sincerest regrets I would like to correct the statement I made on the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) during this morning’s press briefing. It is to fire, and not to abolish the Commission,” Roque announced Tuesday afternoon via his Twitter account.
From the Presidential Spokesperson-
With sincerest regrets I would like to correct the statement I made on the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) during this morning’s press briefing. It is to fire, and not to abolish the Commission. pic.twitter.com/G2JKGMwp97— Harry Roque (@attyharryroque) December 12, 2017
Earlier in the day, during a press briefing in Malacañang, Roque said Duterte wanted to put an end to the institution, which was created through President Corazon Aquino’s Executive Order No.82, which she issued on December 8, 1986.
READ RELATED STORY: Duterte to abolish urban poor commission over ‘junkets’
PCUP is currently chaired by James Mark Terry Ridon, a lawyer and activist, who is former representative of Kabataan-partylist, which belongs to the leftist Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives. The group also includes party-list organizations Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, and ACT Teachers.
PCUP’s commissioners are: commissioners are: Dr. Melissa A. Aradanas, Dr. Joan A. Lagunda, Manuel L. Serra Jr., and Noe B. Indonto.
According to Roque, Duterte is serious in addressing corruption and his decision to terminate the services of the said PCUP officials is part of the administration’s fight for a clean government.
PCUP executives allegedly spent public funds for unnecessary travels or “junkets” and did not meet as a collegial body, according to the presidential spokesperson.
Among PCUP’s mandates are to coordinate the speedy implementation of government policies and programs for the poor and set up a consultative mechanism that shall provide a forum for continuing dialogue between the government and the urban poor on the proper planning and evaluation of programs and projects affecting them.
On March 29, 2012, then President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 69 transferring PCUP to the Office of the President so it can effectively coordinate, formulate, and evaluate policies and programs concerning the urban poor.
EO 69 also strengthened the commission’s functions by giving the agency the power to:
(1) Undertake social preparation activities related to asset reform, human development and basic social services, employment and livelihood, other programs of the government for the urban poor
(2) Participate in policy discussions relating to the urban poor in board meetings of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, key shelter agencies, local housing boards and other similar bodies
(3) Submit quarterly reports to the Office of the President, relative to the status of compliance with the provisions of EO 69 and the pertinent provision of the law governing eviction and demolition activities
