Office of the President

Of the Philippines

Malacañang, Manila

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 183

OBSERVANCE OF THE NATIONAL WEEK FOR OVERCOMING EXTREME POVERTY AND PARTICIPATION IN THE “STAND UNITED, FIGHT POVERTY” GLOBAL CAMPAIGN

WHEREAS, Presidential Proclamation 717, Series of 2004, has declared October 17 to 23 of every year as the “National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty (NWOEP)”;

WHEREAS, Presidential Proclamation No. 269, Series of 1993, has declared October 17 each year as the “National Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty”;

WHEREAS, the NWOEP aims “to unite and gather the support of all sectors of society — national government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, private sector and the poor communities themselves — in the fight against extreme poverty”;

WHEREAS, since three years ago, the United Nations has staged “Stand Up, Take Action” global campaigns which aimed to create awareness and encourage millions of people in various countries, including the Philippines, to take action against poverty;

WHEREAS, the Philippines has distinguished itself in these campaigns by setting a world record in people participation last year, and intends to continue topping the same this year;

WHEREAS, this year, the same global campaign has been localized by the UN System in the Philippines to read “Stand United, Fight Poverty” and aims to foster stronger stakeholder demand for policies that would ensure the attainment of the four (4) Millennium Development Goals (MDG), that currently have the least prospect of being attained by 2015, namely: MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education, MDG 4: Improve maternal health, and MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;

IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, all government agencies, including Local Government Units, are hereby directed to observe the NWOEP by participating in, or staging, activities that have the greatest impacts in generating awareness for, and commitments in the fight against poverty, and in consideration of the SUFP, participate in the preparation and conduct of the same activities from October 16-18, 2009, specially those focused on the four MDGs stated above, including but not limited to the MDG motorcade, wreath-laying ceremony at the Commemorative Stone for Victims of Poverty, and the National People’s Day Fair on October 17, 2009 at the Luneta Park. Moreover, they are hereby directed to take guidance from, and follow the lead of, the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

Manila, Philippines, October 13, 2009.