By Rose B. Palacio

Davao City (20 October) -- Botika sa Barangay, one of the government's pet projects, is now being established in the different barangays of the City's second district with 2nd district representative Vincent Garcia sourcing the program in line with the President's pro-poor program.

Davao Medical Center chief of hospital Dr. Gerardo Cunanan said that just recently, he has a meeting with Congressman Garcia who has been coordinating with him for the adequate supply of medicine for the poor sector so that they can avail of the cheap medicines in their respective barangays. Additional funds for the Botika sa Barangay also comes from the Congressional funds of Congressman Garcia.

On top of the Botika sa Barangays, the government continues to intensify the poverty relief programs such as Tindahang Bayan, the Administration's food for work program, farm and fishery family extension program, cooperative and microfinance schemes.

Congressman Garcia has also provided scholarship to poor but deserving students in the second district and the augmentation of limited funds for the various cooperatives in the second district.

With the economy on a roll, the country now has more resources to give more and better basic services for the poor.

The President has vowed to stamp out poverty and give better living conditions to Filipinos in a United Nations campaign dubbed as "Stand Up," in which the Philippines is also aiming to set a world record for the most number of people standing up against this social malaise.

President Arroyo is calling on leaders to "not just sit and do nothing while children born to poor families live 30 years shorter than children born to well-off families."

"Now is the time to end this heartbreaking reality. Let us stand up to ask for justice and not for pity," the President said.