09/03/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
The Zero Poverty 2030 (ZeP2030) Bulacan Local Convergence led by Latigo Handang Maglingkod Foundation,Inc successfully held its 1st General Assembly on March 6, 2026, at the City Covered Court of the City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, bringing together various civil society groups, community organizations, and local leaders under the theme:
โ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฒ.โ
The event served as a platform to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders committed to promoting transparency, integrity, and sustainable poverty reduction initiatives across the province of Bulacan.
A total of ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ (๐๐๐๐ฌ), ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, and ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ (๐๐๐๐ฌ) attended the assembly. Participants expressed strong interest in becoming active partners in the ZeP2030 Bulacan Convergence, demonstrating a growing collective commitment to addressing poverty and corruption at the grassroots level.
The assembly featured insightful panel discussions from leaders and advocates working in governance, faith-based initiatives, and youth development.
Presidential Commission for the Urban PoorโLuzon, represented by Mr. ๐๐ผ๐ต๐ป ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐. ๐ข๐น๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ผ, Acting Area Coordinator (Guest Speaker). In his message, Mr. Olmedo emphasized the importance of citizens and organizations joining efforts to support initiatives against corruption. He also expressed that PCUP stands united in the goal of ending poverty through various social preparation activities designed to strengthen the capacity of communities and urban poor organizations.
๐๐๐ฏ. ๐๐๐ง๐ฃ๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ of Sapang Palay IEMELIF Church delivered the first panel presentation titled โMoral Governance and Social Accountability: Faith-Based Leadership in Combatting Corruption and Poverty.โ His discussion highlighted the vital role of faith-based institutions in promoting ethical leadership, transparency, and community empowerment in governance.
The second panel speaker, ๐๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ of SIKLAB CSJDM Inc., presented โYouth on the Frontline: Championing and Driving Poverty Solutions.โ She emphasized the importance of youth participation in social development, encouraging young leaders to take active roles in shaping inclusive and sustainable poverty reduction programs.
During the event, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐. formally took their oath of commitment as an official member of the ZeP2030 Bulacan Convergence, marking another milestone in expanding the coalition of organizations working toward the shared goal of ending extreme poverty.
A significant highlight of the assembly was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ค๐จ๐ ๐
๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐๐ง๐. and ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, formalizing their partnership as Co-Local Convenors of ZeP2030 in the Province of Bulacan.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Zero Poverty PH 2030 Secretariat, affirming the organizationsโ commitment to lead and coordinate local initiatives that align with the national movement to end extreme poverty by 2030.
The ZeP2030 Bulacan 1st General Assembly marked an important step in building a stronger network of partners dedicated to integrity-driven governance and inclusive development. Through continued collaboration among civil society, faith-based groups, youth organizations, and local government units, the convergence aims to mobilize communities and accelerate solutions to poverty while promoting accountability in public service.
As the movement continues to grow, ZeP2030 Bulacan calls on more organizations and stakeholders to join the convergence and work together toward a future where poverty is eliminated and integrity in governance prevails.
