Social services and other programs of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) just came closer to the indigent residents of the Bicol region.

This was after the OVP opened on Wednesday its 10th satellite office at ANST III Building, Alternate Road in Legazpi City, Albay.

Vice President Sara Duterte said the establishment of OVP satellite offices across the country aims to provide more Filipinos access to OVP programs, such as the “Magnegosyo Ta ‘Day” livelihood project for women and LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more) sectors.

Duterte is also looking forward to implementing in the Bicol region the OVP’s peacebuilding efforts through “Peace 911,” the “PagbaBAGo” advocacy campaign for children’s education, which aims to plant one million trees by the end of her term, and the “Pansarap” anti-malnutrition campaign.

One of the highly requested social services from the OVP is the Medical and Burial (MAB) assistance program, which gives financial support to indigent Filipinos in need of medical attention or the burial of a family member. This has already served 94,519 beneficiaries and processed PHP861,659,631.06 from July 2022 to July 13 this year.

Architect Jeizel Cone Asia, an active youth leader in Bicol, heads the OVP satellite office in Legazpi City.

So far, the OVP has established satellite offices in the cities of Davao, Zamboanga, Cotabato, Surigao, Cebu, Bacolod, Tacloban, Isabela, and Dagupan.

The vice president also visited the wake of Eleuterio Rosal Jr. and talked to his son, former Albay Governor Noel Rosal with his wife Legazpi City Mayor Carmen Geraldine Rosal.

Duterte also met with various organizations in Albay that supported her in the 2022 National Elections.

“Personal tayong nagpasalamat sa 241 na mga indibidwal na kumatawan sa 19 na mga parallel o support groups sa isang pagtitipon dito sa probinsya ng Albay para sa kanilang suporta sa akin noong nakaraang eleksyon (We personally thanked the 241 individuals who represent 19 parallel or support groups in a gathering here in Albay for supporting me last elections),” she said.

Duterte also provided them with updates on her work as the secretary of the Department of Education.

While in Albay, the Vice President also visited families who were affected by the volcanic activities of Mt. Mayon.

She reported that under the Emergency Cash Transfer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 408 families from the towns of Tabaco, Camalig, Sto. Domingo, and Daraga were provided each with PHP24,660 in cash assistance. (PNA)