Despite a significant P1.4 billion budget cut under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the Office of the Vice President (OVP) bared that it continues to deliver what it calls as “dynamic and responsive public service and remains a steadfast partner in nation-building.”
The OVP services and programs were highlighted during the 2025 OVP Pasidungog, which was held at SMX Convention Center at SM Lanang Premier in Davao City on Monday and gathered 746 attendees and recognized 1,140 awardees from all over the Philippines.
The Pasidungog is OVP’s annual event that honors its partners’ invaluable support to various socio-civic programs.
“Ito ‘yung yearly, ang Pasidungog ay yearly tradition namin sa Office of the Vice President. Nagsimula noong 2023, dito nagbibigay kami ng report kung ano ‘yung mga accomplishments ng Office of the Vice President para sa isang taon at dito pinapasalamatan namin ang mga partners naming na galing sa government and sa private sector kasama na ang mga CSO’s at non government organizations dahil hindi namin magagawa ang lahat ng mga trabaho at kailangan naming gawin para sa serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan kung wala yung mga partners natin,” Vice President Sara Duterte said during the press conference.
In her keynote address, the vice president underscored that limited resources have not hindered the OVP’s resolve to fulfill its mandate of serving the Filipino people.
“Naging mas mapaghamon ang pagpapatakbo namin ng mga programa na ang pakay ay pagbibigay ng solusyon sa ilang mga pangunahing suliranin ng mga Pilipino. Ngunit ang mga batikos at sistematikong atake laban sa OVP ay hindi naging sapat para tayo ay humina, huminto, at mabigo,” the vice president said.
Duterte stressed that each program, project, and activity for health, livelihood, education, and food assistance were implemented in response to the challenges that Filipinos face in their communities.
The following social programs have delivered immediate assistance and provided essential relief to individuals and families in need over the past year: medical assistance program, 127, 984 beneficiaries; burial assistance program, 25, 495 beneficiaries; Magnegosyo Ta ‘Day Program, 463 individual beneficiaries and nine organizations; Libreng Sakay Program, over 1, 000, 000 passengers; Kalusugan Food Trucks, 3, 914 freshly prepared meals delivered; Relief of Individuals and Indigents in Crises and Emergencies Program (RIICE), 146, 000 beneficiaries; PanSarap Project, 13, 000 student beneficiaries; and PagbaBAGo: A Million Learners and Trees Campaign, 301, 355 trees planted and 199, 686 school bags distributed.
Duterte underscored that the successful roll-out of these programs and projects would not be possible without the over 1, 000 partners that helped advance the well-being of our nation.
“Sa misyong ito ay natutupad natin ang mga proyekto at programang nagbibigay ng ginhawa sa buhay ng mga pamilya, babago sa mga komunidad, huhubog ng mga pangarap, at magpapanday ng magandang kinabukasan,” she said.
The vice president also thanked the healthcare institutions, for their partnership with the OVP and for their recognition of the importance of the service OVP provides to the underserved communities not only in Mindanao but throughout the Philippines.
“Nakakalungkot lang dahil wala na kasi kaming medical and burial assistance, ito ay tinanggal, hindi naming siya malagyan ng budget dahil tinganggal talaga ‘yung line na item sa Office of the Vice President, lumabas ‘yung budget ng Office of the Vice President sa General Appropriations Act kaya’t matitigil yung medical and burial assistance pero masaya kami dahil nandiyaan pa rin ‘yung mga healthcare institutions na handa makipag-partnership sa mga susunod na taon kung magkakaroon pa rin ng budget,” she said.
Duterte said OVP is also expecting to finish one million trees for the country this year.
“At usapan nalang namin, itutuloy pa rin namin ang tree planting beyond sa target namin na isang milyong puno,” she said.
