Lope B. Santos III is a Filipino government official. He is currently serving as the Secretary and Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). Appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on February 20, 2023, he is tasked with coordinating the Philippine government’s multi-agency efforts to reduce poverty.

Personal Information
Complete Name –>
Birth Date –> N/A (Age )
Hometown –> Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Education
College –> Technological University of the Philippines

Government Service Career / Work Experiences
Secretary, National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC)
Director IV, Bureau of Learner Support Services, Department of Education
Technical adviser, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)

Before his appointment to the NAPC, Dr. Santos was involved in regional agricultural and development work. He was previously associated with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), where he engaged in international missions, including visits to Fiji to collaborate on agricultural and crop extension divisions.

Key Initiatives and Programs (2023–2026)
Since taking office, Secretary Santos has focused on several flagship initiatives aimed at achieving a single-digit poverty incidence (approximately 9%) by 2028:
1. National Anti-Poverty Action Agenda (N3A) 2023–2028: This roadmap serves as the primary strategy for aligning national and local anti-poverty efforts with the Philippine Development Plan.

2. Magna Carta of the Poor (RA 11291): He has championed the enforcement of the five fundamental rights of the poor: adequate food, decent work, relevant education, adequate housing, and the highest attainable standard of health.

3. Local Poverty Reduction Action Plans (LPRAP): In late 2025, Santos, alongside the DILG, issued guidelines to institutionalize a “bottom-up” approach, requiring local government units (LGUs) to create specific action plans that reflect the needs of their marginalized residents.

4. Convergence and Regional Expansion: He has overseen the establishment of new regional coordinating offices, such as the one in Cagayan de Oro City (2025), to better monitor the impact of national programs at the community level.

5. Microfinance Support: He is an advocate for increasing the People’s Development Trust Fund (PDTF)—proposing a significant increase from 4.5 billion to 7 billion pesos—to provide microfinance services for those in need.

Recent Developments
As of late 2025, Secretary Santos has been actively seeking a larger workforce for the NAPC to ensure the successful rollout of 2026 programs. He has also been a key figure in high-level dialogues, such as the Philippine Poverty Summit 2025 (PPRS25), which brought together 27 government agencies and 14 basic sectoral councils to synchronize social protection efforts.

See also: Cabinet Members and Other High Officials under President Bongbong Marcos