Mar Roxas says gov’t's goal is to empower every Filipino

Interior and Local Government Sec. Mar Roxas assured the country’s basic sectors that the whole government is working together to ease the plight of all Filipinos.

Speaking before the national sectoral assembly organized by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Roxas recognized that not all Filipinos were born rich.

He said this is the reason why President Aquino has enforced “affirmative action” to assist the marginalized sectors “dahil dehado (because they are less fortunate).”

The assembly was attended by more than 1,000 leaders from the 14 basic sectors, namely: youth and students, women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, farmers, workers in the informal sector, fisher folk, children, urban poor, indigenous peoples, cooperatives, formal labor and migrant workers, non-government organizations, and victims of disasters and calamities.

Roxas discouraged members of the basic sectors from having a “victim or kawawa mentality”, saying “kung may kakulangan, andiyan ang pamahalaan para tulungan tayo (if there are gaps, the government is there to help us).”

He said all members of the cabinet, following President Aquino’s “whole of government approach” are attending to their needs.

The DILG instead encouraged them to use the assistance being offered by government to achieve their dreams, empowerment being one of the underlying principles of President Aquino’s Tuwid na Daan. (DILG)