Manny Pacquiao appointed as Philippines anti-poverty chief

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed boxing legend and former senator Manny Pacquiao as the lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). Pacquiao, who holds the rank of Cabinet secretary, took his oath at Malacañang on September 8, 2026, succeeding Lope Santos III.

The NAPC is tasked with coordinating poverty reduction programs between national and local governments and ensuring marginalized sectors have a voice in decision-making. This appointment follows Executive Order No. 123, which transferred oversight of the NAPC and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the Office of the President.

In a separate diplomatic engagement, President Marcos Jr. received the credentials of the new ambassadors from Norway and the Republic of Korea. Norwegian Ambassador Kristian Netland expressed interest in expanding cooperation in the maritime sector, trade, and the green transition, while South Korean Ambassador Lee Dong-gy underscored the importance of sustaining bilateral ties.