ZeP2030 Co-Chair Mr. Senen Bacani opened the Assembly with a call to strengthen collaboration and convergence among stakeholders in addressing poverty.

The Assembly featured presentations by Ms. Sharon Faye Piza of the World Bank on “Building the Filipino Middle Class: Towards Resilient Futures and Poverty Eradication” and Ms. Deanne Lorraine Cabalfin of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) on “Who Is at Risk of Poverty? Income, Deprivation and Vulnerability in the Philippines.” Both presentations underscored the importance of expanding access to quality jobs, strengthening social protection, and addressing vulnerabilities that put Filipino families at risk of poverty.

A panel discussion featuring the two speakers, Mr. Austere Panadero of the Zuellig Family Foundation, and Mr. Dodo Macasaet of the Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Inc., explored the implications of these findings for poverty reduction efforts. Mr. Raffy Magno, Executive Director of Angat Buhay, moderated the discussion.

The Assembly also marked significant milestones in ZeP2030’s journey. These included a retrospective on the coalition’s 10 years of collective action; the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the F5 Collective (Peace and Equity Foundation, Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Forest Foundation Philippines, Foundation for the Philippine Environment, and Association of Foundations) and Xavier Agricultural Extension Services Foundation, Inc. (XAESFI) to implement community programs in Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay; and the recognition of new ZeP2030 Local Convenors. 

The coalition also launched its new website, featuring its members, initiatives, and opportunities for collaboration.

Ms. Bella Quimpo, Executive Director of Del Monte Foundation, Inc. and Trustee of the Association of Foundations (AF), delivered the closing remarks, reaffirming the importance of collective action in advancing the coalition’s shared goal.

PBSP is a Lead Convenor as well as co-secretariat of ZeP2030 alongside AF.