Anti-poverty program Angat Buhay benefited 622,000 families –OVP

Vice President Leni Robredo Office's Angat Buhay program, which implements anti-poverty initiatives with support from the private sector, impacted around 622,000 Filipino families since 2016.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) said in a Monday statement that the families that benefited from Angat Buhay initiatives were from 223 cities and municipalities.

The program was supported by 372 organizations and, as of December 2021, received P520 million in funding from various sources though mostly from private sector donations.

"The figures cover Angat Buhay’s nearly six years of extending assistance to marginalized families by bringing together the public and private sector to work on key advocacy areas: food security and nutrition; universal healthcare; public education; rural development; housing and resettlement; and youth and women empowerment," the OVP said.

"The program also covered disaster relief and rehabilitation and response to the COVID-19 pandemic."

Angat Buhay assistance covered the following:

• P146.83 million in donations from the private sector and P85.25 million pesos in relief assistance were provided by the OVP for those in calamity areas such as in the Taal explosion, those affected by Typhoon Nina in 2016, and residents of areas hit by Typhoon Odette
• the Swab Cab (free mobile RT-PCR COVID-19 testing in communities with incentives) which tested 9,757 people in communities with high transmission rates
• the COVID-19 Vaccine Express which mobilized frontliners to help local government units in their vaccination programs
• the Bayanihan E-Konsulta which aided hospitals through telemedicine
• provision of 35,656 extraction and detection kits for help in identifying COVID-19 positive individuals
• the OVP’s Community Mart which helped 41 tricycle drivers and 248 vendors in Pasig and Quezon City
• Sikap.Ph which provided access to jobs for those who lost employment amid the pandemic
• provision of gadgets for schoolchildren and the establishment of Community Learning Hubs
• P82.14 million mobilized for health projects in 124 localities, such as a mental health facility in San Remigio, Cebu, as well as x-ray machines and medicines with the help of Solanaland Foundation and ANCOP Foundation USA.
• 44 projects worth P39.49 million that were initiated to address malnutrition in Lambunao, Iloilo with the cooperation of the Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation, Inc.
• construction of 81 classrooms and five dormitories worth P122.96 million to help students in places like Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte where the dormitory was constructed in partnership with the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation
• provision of scholarships and skills training to more than 120 Filipino youth as well as 138 women entrepreneurs who were given access to livelihood opportunities, including startup capital and mentoring from experts, through the Angat Buhay Workshop for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs.
• launching of #RespetoNaman, a campaign against gender-based violence, rape, and sexual harassment together with UN Women, Embassy of Sweden, SPARK Philippines, and Empower and initiation of Babaenihan Talks to address teenage pregnancies in poor communities
• P15.39 million worth of livelihood assistance turned over to 156 fisherfolk, famers, seamstresses, small businessmen, and riders in partnership with 33 accredited civil society organizations, including members of PANGISDA Parañaque who received fish cages, boats, and other equipment along with training in financial and business management, leadership, organizational building, and cooperative building
• rural development projects included the Omasenso sa Kabuhayan program where small farmers from Camarines Sur became agri-preneurs and directly connected to bigger markets for their produce, which now benefit 11 farmer organizations and
• the BAHAYanihan program in Bicol allocated P15.4 million for construction materials for people living in danger zones as well as donations from the private sector enabled the construction of 72 transitory shelters for the survivors of the fighting in Marawi.

Robredo said that she hoped to continue such initiatives if she wins the 2022 presidential race.

“Meron na tayong vision na kapag tayong binigyan ng pagkakataon, ito 'yung Pilipinas na inaasahan natin: na 'yung mga naiiwan ay inaakay, 'yung mga nadadapa, ibinibitbit. 'Yung mga blessed ay sini-share yung blessing sa iba,” Robredo said.

(We have a vision that, if given the chance, this will be the Philippines that we can expect: that those in the fringes will be aided, those struggling will be given a helping hand, and blessings will be shared.)

— DVM, GMA News