Vice President Leni Robredo maintained good governance despite the attacks of trolls and other oppositions through false information dissemination, mainly—threatened men. Her office received the highest rating a government agency could ever have.
June 2021, when the Office of the Vice President (OVP) received the highest audit rating from the Commission of Audit (COA) for the fiscal year 2020: the highest rating the COA can give to a government agency.
“In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of OVP as of December 31, 2020, and its financial performance, statement of cash flows, statement of changes in net assets/equity, statement of comparison of budget and actual amounts for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs),” said the report.
For the fiscal year 2018 and 2019, OVP also received an “unqualified opinion” from the state auditors making the Office receive it for three consecutive years. Meanwhile, its recertification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is obtained in February 2021.
Robredo credited the consistent highest ratings from COA to her staff.
“Mahalaga ang recognition na ito dahil patunay siya sa pagpapahalaga natin sa pagsasaayos ng ating mga sistema, lalo pagdating sa maayos na paggamit ng pera ng bayan,” she said in a statement.
The Office is known for its Angat Buhay Program which benefited a lot of people, particularly those in the rural areas even before the Pandemic.
VP’s Angat Buhay Program
On her midterm, the fiscal year 2016 to 2019, it focused on deepening its anti-poverty program Angat Buhay and bringing Istorya ng Pag-Asa to more areas and later launched the Ahon Laylayan Koalisyon. It is a movement inspired by the People’s Council in Naga City, which aims to empower various sectors for priority determination and engage community leaders in collaborative problem-solving. It provides anti-poverty interventions from the conceptualization of partner organizations in implementation with consultations with local stakeholders. For three years of the term, the Office was able to mobilize a total of PHP 18.92 million worth of resources to conduct a nutrition program for 9, 703 individuals in nine areas with the help of Assisi Development Foundation, Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines, and Negrense Volunteers for Change, among others in response to her Food Security Nutrition advocacy.
For Universal Health Care’s advocacy, 84 individuals or 70 families of indigent patients from 8 different areas have received assistive devices s wheelchairs, canes and hearing aids, care of Physicians for Peace Philippines.
According to the report, In San Remigio, Cebu, the OVP has built a mental health facility furnished with the help of Solanaland Foundation Inc. and ANCOP Foundation USA, Inc. The ANCOP USA also provided 120 seats and carriers and 39 nebulizers to 84 156 individuals children with cerebral palsy. Several dental and medical missions have also been given free health services and consultations to communities in need throughout the Metro Laylayan.
PHP 122.96 million worth of educational infrastructure has been built, including 81 classrooms, five dormitories, learning spaces, and utilities for students in remote areas to promote Public Education and provided PHP 4.49 million worth of scholarships and technical training to equip the youths with appropriate skills for future employment. Meanwhile, around PHP 8.27 million worth of school kits have also been provided for students in the OVP’s adopted communities.
“Every year, the OVP also takes part in Brigada Eskwela to help public schools in their preparation for the beginning of classes. This was made possible with the help of partners like the American Chamber of Commerce-Philippines (AMCHAM), Bato Balani Foundation, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce, Inc. (FICCI).” Stated in the midterm 2016-2019 report of OVP.
A total of 72 families has now resided in OVP’s Angat Buhay Village, a transitory house catering to those who were affected by the Marawi siege located in Marawi, Lanao del Sur. More than PHP 12.89 million have been mobilized by partners such as Piso Para Sa Laban Ni Leni, Sigma Delta Phi – Southern California Alumnae Association, JS Unitrade, RAF International, Uratex, JVR Foundation, EMCOR, United Architects of the Philippines – Quezon City Elliptical Chapter, and Metro Stonerich Corporation for transitory shelters building in order to give stepping stone for the affected families.
In terms of Rural Development, a total of 13.53 million worth of resources have been mobilized for livelihood opportunities to 6,214 farmers and fisherfolk and 1,445 indigent families. This includes giving access to credit, farm inputs, and livelihood assets. VP was also able to encourage 3,776 households in areas like Agutaya and Quinapondan, with the help of our partners Team Energy and Solanaland Foundation which gave way to families to become more efficient and productive, especially in the work they do at home.
Robredo also launched the #RespetoNaman campaign focused on bringing an end to gender-based violence (GBV) together with the Embassy of Sweden, Spark Philippines, and Empower. The Office also caters to programs for women empowerment. VP and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) worked together for the Babaenihan campaign to raise teenage pregnancy awareness. The office also launched a program for women political leaders called Angat Bayi through the support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. As of 2019, 18 women leaders in local governments have already graduated from the program.
Meanwhile, the office, as of 2022, served PHP 71.06 million worth of disaster response and rehabilitation from Partners, PHP 48.96 million Worth of disaster response and rehabilitation from the Office of the Vice President, and helped 207,244 families in coordination with various local government and Angat Buhay Partners, 7, 606 families were helped during Metro Laylayan, 3, 907 youths has served, and PHP 6.25 million worth of projects and training in benefit of 1, 253 individuals have benefited.
On the other hand, the OVP’s response to Covid-19 has ballooned to PHP 505.39 million. The Office was able to mobilize PHP 56,854,320.00 worth of COVID-19 test kits and equipment, PHP 64,070,321.80 of Locally-produced PPE Other medical supplies, PHP 7,992,500.00 of Food and care packages, PHP 2,128,660.00 of Free shuttle and ferry service, PHP 43,986,592.26 of Free dormitories, PHP 15,625,000.00 of OVP shelters and Transportation for LSIs, PHP 25,618,692.82 of Assistance to communities (Relief).
There are also PHP 14,106,881.43 of hot meals, PHP 390,000.00 of Community kitchen, PHP20,593.00 of Online community markets, PHP 9,052,332.33 of Sustainable livelihood and training, PHP 17,285,250.00 of Locally-funded projects such as Bayanihan e-Skwela, PHP 20,430,231.12 of Gadget drive, PHP 2,553,947.00 of Community Learning Hubs, PHP 17,500,000.00 of Instructional videos, PHP 500,000.00 of Modular distance learning (DepEd), PHP 355,990.00 of Bayanihan Sugbuanon (Cebu), PHP 162,300.00 of Free haircut service, and PHP 206,760,523.51 of Medical assistance.
According to the 2020 Annual Report, As of December 2020, the Office of the Vice President’s COVID-19 Response Operations has reached 2,388 communities and hospitals nationwide, mobilizing more than PHP 505.39 million worth of resources working with 381 development organizations and partners.
Today, Robredo seeks the Presidential Office as she campaigns for the seat along with nine other men.
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Written by: Maria Danica Esparrago
Layout and Design by: Dan Kurt Buenaventura
Sources:
https://ovp.gov.ph/angat-buhay.html
https://ovp.gov.ph/storage/app/uploads/public/613/9fc/21a/6139fc21a1774205892763.pdf
https://ovp.gov.ph/storage/app/uploads/public/616/697/b91/616697b91aea0996685839.pdf
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1452941/ovp-gets-highest-coa-rating-for-third-straight-year
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