Office of the Vice President 30 June 2017

In her inaugural speech, Vice President Leni 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 healthcare, rural development, women empowerment, and housing and human resettlements.

Last October 10, 2016, the OVP launched Angat Buhay: Partnerships Against Poverty, the office’s flagship program. The word “Angat,” means lifting our people from extreme poverty, and “Buhay,” emphasizes 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, VP Leni visited more than 80 communities to consult with residents on what programs would help them best.

Through Angat Buhay, the OVP 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 the target municipalities. This has all happened in less than one year.

“In less than a year with Angat Buhay, we have already touched so many lives,” said Vice Presidential 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, VP Leni 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 LGUs 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,” VP Leni said.