MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao is stepping into a very different kind of fight, and Malacañang says his personal connection with poverty and his long-standing desire to help disadvantaged Filipinos played a major role in his appointment as the new head of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Wednesday that Pacquiao’s experience interacting with marginalized communities and his willingness to extend assistance to people in need were among the considerations behind President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to appoint him.
Castro pointed to Pacquiao’s familiarity with Filipinos living on the margins of society, saying his compassion for disadvantaged communities was a factor in why he was chosen for the post.
“Nandoon na iyong kaniyang mithiin, ang kaniyang damdamin na tumulong sa nasa ilalim nga ng lipunan,” Castro said, emphasizing Pacquiao’s desire to help people from vulnerable sectors.
From boxing champion to anti-poverty chief
Pacquiao formally took his oath as Secretary and Lead Convenor of the NAPC on September 8, with President Marcos administering the oath at Malacañang Palace. He succeeded Lope Santos III, who had served as NAPC lead convenor since 2023.
The appointment marks Pacquiao’s return to government service after his six-year Senate term ended in June 2022.
It also gives the former senator and boxing icon a Cabinet-level position, with the NAPC lead convenor serving as head of the commission’s secretariat.
Pacquiao’s new role is especially notable because his public life has moved between sports, politics and now social reform. He served in the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2016 and in the Senate from 2016 to 2022. He also ran for president in 2022 and later sought a Senate comeback in the 2025 elections but failed to secure a seat.
What exactly will Pacquiao do?
The NAPC is not simply a charitable agency. Under Republic Act No. 8425, or the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act of 1997, it serves as the government’s coordinating and advisory body for poverty reduction and social reform.
Its responsibilities include coordinating anti-poverty programs among national and local governments, advocating policies for marginalized communities and ensuring that basic sectors have meaningful participation in policymaking.
The commission also helps formulate and implement the government’s broader Social Reform Agenda and is mandated to prepare the National Anti-Poverty Action Agenda, which takes a multidimensional approach to poverty involving social, economic, ecological and governance concerns.
Why the appointment matters
Pacquiao’s appointment comes as the Marcos administration pushes to intensify its poverty-reduction efforts. Reuters reported that the government is targeting a reduction in the country’s poverty incidence to 8%–9% by 2028. Official data cited by Reuters placed poverty incidence at 9.7% in 2025, equivalent to roughly 11.08 million Filipinos living below the poverty line.
The appointment also follows a recent administrative shift: oversight of the NAPC and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor was returned to the Office of the President from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, according to the Inquirer.
That means Pacquiao is entering the post at a potentially significant moment for the government’s anti-poverty machinery.
Pacquiao’s own story could shape his approach
The Palace’s explanation for his appointment also draws attention to Pacquiao’s personal history.
Before becoming one of the world’s most recognizable athletes, Pacquiao grew up in poverty and has repeatedly spoken about experiencing hunger and hardship. Reuters reported that he recalled sleeping on cardboard on the streets, drinking only water and saving small amounts of money to help his family.
Now, years after becoming an eight-division world boxing champion, Pacquiao is being asked to channel that personal experience into government policy.
His challenge, however, will be considerably different from anything he faced inside a boxing ring: turning compassion and personal experience into measurable, nationwide reductions in poverty.
And with millions of Filipinos still struggling with economic insecurity, the biggest question now is whether “Pacman’s” new fight can deliver results where they matter most — in the lives of ordinary Filipinos.
Leave a Reply