Vice President Sara Duterte explained this Monday that her office, the Office of the Vice President (OVP), used more than P1.2 billion in funds to help the poor needing medical attention.
The OVP reportedly used the P1,270,973,371 fund from July 2022 to October 2023. The fund reportedly helped 106,958 Filipinos.
OVP also provided P130.3 million in burial assistance for 22,470 families.
Duterte said that OVP has helped more Filipinos with the help of satellite offices in Bacolod, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Tacloban, Surigao, Zamboanga, Isabela, and the Bangsamoro and Bicol regions.
There are also two extension offices in Lipa, Batangas and Tondo, Manila.
“Bago ako naging Vice President, nakita ko po sa aking paglilibot sa buong Pilipinas ang pangangailangan na dalhin sa mga probinsiya ang mga serbisyo ng gobyerno lalo na sa mga mahihirap na bahagi ng bansa. Marami po kasi sa ating mga kababayan sa probinsiya ang nangangailangan ng serbisyo ng pamahalaan pero madalas ay wala silang matakbuhan,” the Vice President said.
VP Sara Duterte used P1.2-B for medical assistance for the poor
“Kung kaya nung naluklok ako sa puwesto, 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,” she added.
This past July, the Commission on Audit (COA) criticized the OVP for over P600,000 worth of purchases for satellite offices, which they said did not comply with the Procurement Law or Republic Act 9184.
“The immediate establishment of satellite offices without enough equipment to operate led to Management’s decision to resort in immediate purchase of PPE (Property Plant and Equipment) and semi-expendable property using the cash of its officers, which the OVP subsequently paid through reimbursement,” said COA.
Duterte also said that the OVP has also provided free transport service under the agency’s Free Ride program. It is said that more than 523,000 passengers in Metro Manila benefited from this; 99,600 in Cebu; 89,600 in Bacolod; and 60,400 in Davao.
OVP also conducted 162 relief operations during the calamity, which helped 115,045 affected families.
“Bago pa kasi matapos ang 120 days period ng pagpapatupad nito, nakitaan na agad ng pagbabago sa timbang ang mga learners na benepisyaryo nito,” said Duterte.
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