VP Leni helps over 58,000 in rural development, feeding, medical, educational programs
Through its Angat Buhay program, the Office of the Vice President has reached 36,046 individuals and 22,275 families, with almost P52.72 million worth of resources for rural development, feeding and nutrition programs, medical and dental missions, as well as educational infrastructure provided by donor partners for target municipalities.
“In less than a year with Angat Buhay, we have already touched so many lives,” said the vice president’s spokesperson and head of Advocacy and Anti-Poverty Programs Georgina Hernandez. “This is just the beginning. There are still so many who need our help. We are not stopping until we have effectively raised the quality of living of our fellow Filipinos from the farthest and poorest communities in the country.”
Moreover, the OVP also served as one of the first responders to many areas hit by natural and man-made disasters, providing relief to 26,000 families affected by typhoons Lawin and Nina, earthquakes in Surigao and Batangas, and recently, the Marawi clash.
Furthermore, Vice President Leni Robredo continues to work with stakeholders on the task of building Marawi and helping its people get back on their feet through livelihood opportunities.
“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved — from 50 pilot local government units in 2016, we’re now at 134. But we all know, we cannot rest. So much more needs to be done because there are so many of our fellow Filipinos that continue to be left out,” the vice president said.
In her inaugural speech, Vice President Robredo highlighted the importance of inclusive growth, of working together to aid those in the margins, and most importantly, named six key advocacy areas she hoped to focus on during her term. These are: hunger and nutrition, public education, universal health care, rural development, women empowerment, and housing and human resettlements.
Last 10 October 2016, the OVP launched Angat Buhay: Partnerships Against Poverty, the flagship program of her office. The word “Angat” means lift and “Buhay” life; together Angat Buhay means lifting our people from extreme poverty, while emphasizing the value of life for every Filipino. At the heart of this program are Filipino families — the vulnerable and marginalized — who need to be provided with necessary support and given a fighting chance at improving their lives.
Angat Buhay serves primarily as a connecting platform among local government units and private sector partners, civil society organizations, and non-government organizations. In her first year in office, Vice President Robredo visited more than 80 communities to consult with residents on what programs would help them best.