Manny Pacquiao returns to government as Philippines anti-poverty chief

Former senator and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has returned to government as the secretary and lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), sworn in by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace. The appointment, which carries Cabinet-level weight, comes after Executive Order No. 123 shifted oversight of the NAPC under the Office of the President.

Pacquiao's role involves coordinating poverty-reduction efforts across national agencies, local governments, and the private sector, as well as ensuring marginalized communities have a voice in policy-making. The NAPC, established under the 1998 Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act, also plays a key role in allocating resources for social reform initiatives.

Pacquiao, who previously served in the Senate until June 2022, now joins Larry Gadon, who already advises the president on poverty alleviation. Gadon welcomed the appointment, seeing it as a fitting move for the administration's intensified efforts to reduce poverty rates.