Mu Sigma Phi Sorority, Inc.

by Zie Verzosa '14

On October 17-19, 2011, the National Anti-Poverty Commission hosted the National Sectoral Assembly at the Philippine International Convention Center Forum and various hotels around the city area. Around 1,300 leaders of civil society organizations representing the 14 basic sectors convened to create agenda for the implementation of the national anti-poverty strategies of the government.

The basic sectors include cooperatives, artisanal fisherfolk, children, farmers, indigenous peoples, non-government organizations, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, urban poor, victims of disasters, women, formal labor and migrant workers; workers in the informal sector; youth and students. The Mu Sigma Phi Sorority was invited as a national organization in the youth and students sector with Grazielle Verzosa µƩɸ 2014 as its representative.

Zie Verzosa (top left) joins other members of the youth sector in discussing possible means to alleviate poverty in this year’s National Anti-Poverty Commission Sectoral Assembly held on October 17-19, 2011.

In the opening ceremonies, President Benigno S. Aquino III gave the keynote in which he emphasized the theme “Sa NAPC, may boses ang Boss.” “Naniniwala po akong malaking hakbang itong National Sectoral Assemblies natin sa krusadang maibsan ang gutom at kahirapan sa bansa. Maliban sa pagiging behikulo para maipaabot ng ating mga batayang sektor ang kanilang mga pananaw at hinaing, mekanismo rin ito upang matalakay ang mga bagong estratehiya at paraan upang magdulot ng positibong pagbabago sa mga sektor at sa buong bansa. Ang pagbubuklod-buklod po nating ito ay susi upang mas maging epektibo ang pagpapatupad at pagpapalaganap ng ating mga inisyatiba kontra sa kahirapan,” the President said.

President Benigno C. Aquino III graced the event and delivered the keynote speech to formally start the assembly.

The youth and students sector held the selection of sectoral council members and sectoral representative as well as the formulation of its sectoral assembly at the Great Eastern Hotel alongside the women, senior citizens, children and non-government organizations sectors. Discourse and debate ensued as the hot-blooded members of the youth and students sector discussed universal health care, the RH Bill, labor rights, student welfare and gender equality among other pressing issues of society. Aside from sectoral agenda, the different regions also convened to create regional agenda to better address the needs of the different local government units.

The assembly ended with the presentation of the sectoral agenda with everyone leaving on a mission to finally alleviate poverty in our nation.