Pacquiao sidesteps 2028 question, says NAPC work on poverty comes first

Former senator Manny Pacquiao said he has not yet turned his mind to the 2028 elections, saying his attention is on his work as secretary and lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), according to Edge Davao.

Pacquiao spoke to reporters on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Mindanao Development Forum 2026 in Davao City, where he was among the guest speakers. Asked whether he might run for president, vice president or senator, he said he was focused on public service, his family and their businesses. "Wala akong politics na naiisip," he said.

He said sustainable livelihood programs and support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) would be at the centre of NAPC's anti-poverty push, since small businesses can create jobs and give families steadier income. Possible livelihood options include farming, fishing and other activities suited to local communities, he said.

Pacquiao added that housing and education are key concerns under the government's "Masaganang Pamumuhay sa Bagong Pilipinas" program, noting that many families still have no home and struggle to pay for their children's schooling.

He named Davao, Sarangani, Agusan, Zamboanga and Marawi among areas that could receive assistance, though he said help would depend on the programs and resources available through NAPC and its partners. The commission plans to work with development partners and seek investment and donations from companies in the Philippines and abroad, which he said should go directly to intended beneficiaries.

Pacquiao also said NAPC currently has no regional offices and wants to set them up to reach communities more directly. He estimated this would need an additional P200 million to P300 million.

Despite the limited time left in the current administration, he said he aims to show results within his first 100 days in office. He traced his commitment to his own experience of poverty, including sleeping by the roadside and going hungry, and said even a small source of income, such as a sari-sari store, can help families afford food and rice.