CLOSER TO FILIPINOS. The satellite office for the Visayas opened by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in Camputhaw, Cebu City on July 2, 2022. The OVP has established various satellite offices nationwide to serve more Filipinos across the country. (Photo courtesy of Office of the Vice President)
MANILA – Vice President Sara Z. Duterte said her office has implemented various programs and projects in various parts of the country this year to bring the Office of the Vice President (OVP) closer to more Filipinos.
These programs include the Medical Assistance Program, Burial Assistance Program, Mag Negosyo Ta ‘Day, Pagbabago: A Million Learners and Trees, PanSarap, Kalusugan Food Truck, Disaster Operations Center, Relief for Individuals in Crisis and Emergencies, You Can Be VP, and Libreng Sakay.
"Ang aming determinasyon, pagpupunyagi, at pagsisikap ay nakatali sa aming hangarin na makapagsilbi sa inyo bilang mga lingkod bayan. Sa inyo nanggagaling ang aming lakas, ang aming katatagan, at ang aming tapang na harapin ang mga hamon na mabigyan kayo ng mahusay at makabuluhang serbisyo (Our determination, effort, and diligence come from our desire to serve you as public servants. Our strength, resilience, and courage to face the challenge of giving you great and significant service come from you)," Duterte said.
Since she sat as the Vice President, the OVP was able to open satellite offices in the cities of Bacolod, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Tacloban, Surigao, and Zamboanga.
This year, more OVP satellite offices were opened in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Isabela, and Bicol Region.
Extension offices of the OVP's Public Assistance in Lipa, Batangas and Tondo, Manila also began serving residents of these and nearby areas.
"Marami po kasi sa ating mga kababayan sa probinsiya ang nangangailangan ng serbisyo ng pamahalaan pero madalas ay wala silang matakbuhan. Kung kaya nang naluklok ako sa pwesto, ninais ko pong palawakin ang serbisyo ng ating tanggapan at mapagsilbihan ang mga Pilipino hindi lamang sa National Capital Region o Metro Manila, kasama na ang buong bansa (A lot of our people in the provinces need the services of the government. That's why when I was elected in the position, I expanded the services of our office to serve more Filipinos not only in the National Capital Region, but also including the whole country)," Duterte said.
"Ngayon ay malapit na sa ating mga kababayan sa (Now, our people are closer to the) Office of the Vice President."
She noted that from July 2022 to October 2023, the OVP spent PHP1.2 billion in medical assistance for 106,958 Filipinos.
The Burial Assistance Program, with a budget of PHP130.3 million, was able to help 22,470 families.
Meanwhile, the Libreng Sakay Program was able to serve 523,263 commuters in Metro Manila; 89,605 commuters in Bacolod City; 60,409 commuters in Davao; and 99,633 commuters in Cebu City.
In times of disaster, the OVP remained steadfast in helping affected Filipinos through its Disaster Operations Center and Kalusugan Food Truck.
A total of 162 relief operations were made to help 115,045 families who received 23,807 relief boxes, 11,610 food bags, and 438,180 other relief items equivalent to PHP69.1 million.
The PanSarap Program was first implemented for 733 learners of the Tamugan Elementary School in Davao City, followed by 1,064 learners of the Nuro Central Elementary School in Upi, Maguindanao.
Learners were given pansarap buns through Kalusugan Food Trucks.
Through its satellite offices, the OVP was able to distribute 8,415 rice boxes under the Relief for Individuals in Crisis and Emergency or Rice Program.
Four groups, with a combined 25,765 members, each received PHP150,000 in financial assistance through OVP's Mag Negosyo Ta ‘Day Program.
"Ang Mag-Negosyo Ta ‘Day Program naman ay sadyang malapit sa aking puso. Nakita ko kasi kung paano nito binago ang maraming buhay ng mga kababaihan sa Davao City noong mayor pa ako. Ngayon sa OVP, binuksan natin ito sa iba’t ibang mga sektor (The Mag-Negosyo Ta ‘Day Program is close to my heart. I saw how it changed the lives of women in Davao City when I was still mayor. Now in the OVP, we opened this to other sectors)," Duterte said.
Beneficiaries of the program were trained in financial literacy to ensure the success of their businesses.
She also visited last-mile schools in the towns of Palimbang and Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat for the Pagbabago: A Million Learners and Trees Campaign to distribute backpacks with school supplies and dental kits among learners.
The Pagbabago: A Million Learners and Trees Campaign aims to distribute 1 million backpacks and plant 1 million trees across the Philippines before the end of 2028.
"Sa ngayon, 64,860 pagbabago bags na ang naipamahagi natin at 178,167 na puno na rin ang naitanim natin (As of now, we were able to distribute 64,860 pagbabago bags and planted 178,167 trees)," Duterte said.
Three young learners, Trix, Naomi, and Kester, have also traveled with the Vice President under the You Can Be VP Program.
Duterte went to Japan with Trix; to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore with Naomi; and South Korea with Kester.
The OVP was also able to create 749 partnerships with the private sector; 30 international engagements; and 596 local engagements.
"Makakaasa po kayo na ako at ang buong Office of the Vice President ay laging nakahandang magbigay sa inyo ng mahusay, epektibo, at makabuluhang programa, proyekto, at serbisyo (You can count on the entire Office of the Vice President to be always ready to provide you with excellent, effective, and significant programs, projects, and services)," Duterte said. (PNA)
