Latest news with #Castelo
GMA Network
7 days ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
OVP to extend free ride service to stranded commuters amid heavy rains
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Wednesday extended its free ride service to stranded commuters due to the heavy rains triggered by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), enhanced by Tropical Storm Dante and Tropical Cyclone Emong. The OVP deployed two buses plying Monumento-PITX route, two buses for Quiapo-Commonwealth route, and one bus for PITX-Naic, Cavite route. The free service will be available until 10 p.m. "Yung ating Libreng Sakay, itong mga bus ng OVP ay patuloy na naglalakbay," said OVP Spokesperson Ruth Castelo. (Our Libre Sakay service from the OVP will continue to provide free rides.) "As we speak, umaandar yan from the point of beginning, hanggang sa destination para makatulong sa mga mamamayan natin," she added. (These buses from point of origin to destination to help our countrymen.) Castelo said the service may be further extended if needed. Widespread floods hit parts of Metro Manila amid the continuous heavy rains triggered by the Habagat. Government work and classes were also suspended in 26 areas due to the inclement weather. According to the OVP, its disaster operations center is targeting to extend assistance to 355,000 families in several areas including Quezon City, and Pangasinan. They will provide food boxes and relief goods. State weather bureau PAGASA raised storm Signal Number 1 over eight areas in Luzon due to Emong. As of 5 p.m., the following areas are: Ilocos Norte Ilocos Sur La Union Northern and western portions of Pangasinan (Dasol, Burgos, Agno, Bani, Bolinao, City of Alaminos, Mabini, Anda, Labrador, Sual, Binmaley, Dagupan City, Lingayen, Bugallon, Infanta, Sison, Mangaldan, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Pozorrubio) Apayao Abra Benguet — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
17-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
2M passengers served under OVP's ‘Libreng Sakay' —spox
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Thursday said that it has doubled the number of beneficiaries under its "Libreng Sakay" (free bus ride) program, with over 2 million passengers served since last year. OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo said that nine of its buses are currently deployed across the country to offer free rides to commuters, covering routes in Metro Manila, Naic-Cavite, Cebu, Bacolod, Davao, and Tacloban. 'Right now, as of June 30, 2025…we already served 2,025,275 people, passengers, 'yung naisakay na natin [who rode our buses] as of today,' Castelo said in an ambush interview. 'Kung everyday natin itong gagawin hanggang 2028, so naka six years din tayo at marami talaga sigurado ang matutulungan natin no'n. We have three more years, marami pa.' (If we do this every day until 2028, then we have a total of six years, so I'm sure that we will be able to help a lot of passengers. We have three more years, many more will be served.) In its 2024 accomplishment report, the OVP logged a total of 1,780,079 beneficiaries in all its programs, with the office's 'Libreng Sakay' program having the highest number of beneficiaries at 1,025,275. The buses run from Monday to Saturday with two separate schedules: 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Castelo said that the OVP has made a proposal to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to extend the operations of the free buses to accommodate more passengers, especially during peak hours. 'Mag-submit kami lang ng mga more justifications para mapa-approve natin sa kanila. But they are also doing their own study kung feasible 'yung magdagdag pa tayo ng oras, magiging six hours,' she explained. (We will submit more justifications to the DOTr so that they can approve our proposal. But they are also doing their own studies to see if it is feasible to extend the operation and make it six hours.) 'Kaya lang…nakita niyo, kung magiging 4 to 10, that's six hours. Pero 'yung nakita niyo kasi sa PITX kanina, kailangan natin aralin kung kailangan pa magdagdag or anong lugar 'yung kailangan na dagdagan,' she added. (If it becomes 4 to 10 [am/pm], that will be six hours. But we still need to study if we need to add more hours or what area needs to have more buses.) Deployed The OVP under the leadership of Vice President Sara Duterte launched its free bus ride program in August 2022, with only five buses initially deployed in Metro Manila, Davao City, Cebu, and Bacolod. Back then, Duterte said the buses were lent to them by the private sector during the campaign period. After the 2022 elections, she said the OVP decided to deploy the buses instead in different parts of the country to support the DOTr's 'Libreng Sakay' under the government's nationwide service contracting program. Of the nine buses currently deployed, Castelo said that two were already bought by the OVP and the seven others were contracted and are expected to be returned to the owners after Duterte's term as vice president ends in 2028. ''Yung cost, maintenance, driver, 'yung mga may kondukor pa, 'yung mga maglilinis, 'yung wi-fi, lahat 'yan cost na ng Office of the Vice President,' the OVP spokesperson said. (The cost, maintenance, payment for the driver, conductor and cleaning staff, and the wifi—all of those are covered by the OVP.) 'Parang isang buwan, parang P170-180,000 'yung gastos ng OVP para doon sa nine buses na 'yun…operational expenses ng per bus,' she continued. (The OVP spends around P170-180,000 per month for the operational expenses of all the nine buses.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
OVP: Vice President Not Just a Spare Tire, Must Be Ready to Lead
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) pushed back against claims that the Vice President is merely a 'spare tire' to the President, saying the role holds real responsibility and must always be prepared to assume leadership of the country. In a press briefing, OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo stressed that the Vice President shares the same constitutional mandate as the President and plays a crucial role in governance — especially in times of crisis or transition. 'The mandate of the Vice President is the same as that of the President,' Castelo said. 'She is technically the assistant or the one who takes over in case the President becomes absent or unable to serve.' Castelo emphasized that the ongoing public service programs of the OVP are part of Vice President Sara Duterte's readiness to take on the presidency, if necessary. 'These services are her way of preparing for any eventuality from now until 2028,' she added. According to Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution, the Vice President automatically assumes the presidency in the event of the President's death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation. Duterte currently faces serious political turmoil after being impeached by the House of Representatives in February. Over 200 lawmakers signed the complaint, which accuses her of betrayal of public trust, corruption, and even alleged conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez. She also faces scrutiny over the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.
GMA Network
16-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Sara a ‘spare tire'? OVP spox says VP should be ready to assume presidency if needed
The Office of the Vice President on Wednesday shrugged off claims that a Vice President is merely a 'spare tire' of the President, saying that the second highest government official should just be as prepared as the chief executive. In a press conference, OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo emphasized that the country needs a Vice President who is 'always ready to assume' the responsibilities of the President, in case anything happens to the latter and there is a need to assume the presidency. 'The mandate of the Vice President is the same as the mandate of the President. Lahat po ng nakalagay sa Constitution na trabaho ng Presidente, gano'n din ang trabaho ng Vice President. She is technically the assistant or when the President is absent, she takes over because she's the Vice President,' Castelo said. OVP spox Ruth Castelo on the role of Vice President Sara Duterte: 'The mandate of the Vice President is the same as the mandate of the President. Lahat ng nakalagay sa Constitution na trabaho ng Presidente, ganon din ang trabaho ng Vice President.' @gmanews — Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) July 16, 2025 'And the services that are now being delivered by the Vice President through her office is a way of preparing herself just in case any happens from now to 2028,' she added. Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution states that the Vice President shall become the President to serve the unexpired term in case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the President. The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. The Vice President was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. The articles of impeachment included her alleged conspiracy to assassinate President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez; and her supposed misuse of around P612.5 million worth of confidential funds. Duterte, meanwhile, entered a 'not guilty' plea in the verified impeachment complaint filed against her, which she called merely a 'scrap of paper.' OVP funds Castelo further stressed that not supporting Vice President Sara Duterte by not funding her office's projects and programs is a 'great disservice' to the country. 'I'm sure all of us… would think that the Vice President, not necessarily VP Sara, all the Vice Presidents—past, present, and future—-are looked at as spare tire. But if you really think about it, the Vice President should be as prepared as the President. Should anything happen to him, who assumes the responsibility? It's the Vice President,' the recently appointed spokesperson said. 'Whoever the Vice President is, keeping her out of the loop or not being able to provide funds for her projects and programs, not being able to support the Vice President is a great disservice to the country,' she continued. To recall, the House of Representatives decided to reduce the 2025 budget of the OVP from the originally proposed P2 billion to P733 million amid Duterte's refusal to answer lawmakers' questions on OVP budget use, including confidential funds. The Senate retained the House-introduced budget cut despite calls from Duterte's allies to restore some of the OVP's proposed funding for social services. For fiscal year 2026, Duterte's office initially made a proposal of P733 million, retaining the office's 2025 budget, but the Department of Budget and Management increased it to P803.6 million, which further grew to a total of P903 million, upon the request of the OVP. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
09-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
OVP proposes higher budget in 2026 at P903M
The proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2026 has increased by P170 million from the current fiscal year, OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo said Wednesday. At a press conference, Castelo said the OVP, under the leadership of Vice President Sara Duterte, initially made a proposal of P733 million for next year, retaining the office's 2025 budget. However, Castelo said that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) increased the proposed budget to P803.6 million, which further grew to a total of P903 million, upon the request of the OVP. 'So nagdagdag sila…ng less than P70 million, mga P60 something million. And then, nung nagdagdag sila ng P60 something million, we requested for additional personnel services,' she said in an ambush interview. (So they added…less than P70 million, about P60 something million. And then, when they added P60 something million, we requested a higher budget for additional personnel services.) 'Siyempre may cost 'yun…na additional employees para mas ma-fulfill yung functions and other IT equipment that are needed for the OVP. Ang binigay na final ng DBM is P903 million,' she added. (Of course there is a cost for additional employees to better fulfill the functions of the office, and other IT equipment that are needed for the OVP. The final budget given by DBM is P903 million.) Castelo also confirmed that the OVP will not be requesting any confidential funds for next year. 'No confidential funds. Hindi naman na tayo nag-request niyan [we didn't request]… If they want to give, they want to give,' she explained. Asked how confident is the OVP that Congress will approve the P903 million budget request for next year, Castelo said, 'We can just hope and pray that they see the need for this budget.' She also affirmed that the OVP staff will be attending the budget hearings, both at the Senate and House of Representatives. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
