Latest news with #OVP
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
OVP continues to provide aid to flood victims
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has continued distributing relief items to families affected by the consecutive weather systems hitting the country. As of Thursday, the OVP said its disaster operations center (DOC) provided relief assistance to 1,200 affected families in the municipality of Balungao, Pangasinan. An additional 2,443 relief and food boxes are also expected to be delivered in the municipality of Umingan on Friday. So far, approximately 3,446 families have been given assistance by the OVP in flood-stricken towns in Pangasinan. Each relief box contains food packs, hygiene kits, blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, slippers, expandable water jugs, and other essential supplies. The OVP also delivered aid to residents affected by the heavy rains and flooding in Quezon City on Wednesday. The office visited three evacuation centers in Barangays Balingasa, Manresa, and Apolonio Samson, where more than 500 families benefited from the relief goods. To date, the OVP said its DOC has distributed around 6,000 relief boxes in Western Visayas, Northern Luzon, and the National Capital Region since the start of the week. The OVP Kalusugan Food Truck was also deployed in some areas in Quezon City and Manila to give hot meals and water to evacuees, responders, and other volunteers amid the persistent rains caused by recent tropical cyclones, as well as the enhanced Southwest Monsoon or Habagat. — Giselle Ombay/RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
23-07-2025
- 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
Ortega asks OVP to back claims on 'savings' if SC decides vs. impeachment
La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V on Thursday dared the Office of Vice President (OVP) Sara Duterte to back up its claim that millions will be saved if her impeachment trial does not push through. "Kailangan niya ng cost-benefit analysis," Ortega said. (She needs a cost-benefit analysis for that.) "She can't throw around statements like that. Aralin muna nila maigi. Siguro hindi naman aabot sa P612.5 million ang gastos sa impeachment," Ortega said. (She should study it well first. I don't think impeachment expenses will cost P612.5 million.) Ortega was responding to the comments made by OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo, who said that "we'll save millions and millions of money on the trial that is technically defective." Ortega, however, questioned her claim. "At this point, that's premature [for them to say]. Saan galing iyong matitipid? Saan galing iyong hugot niya?" Ortega asked. "Baka sa next press conference mag-present na sila ng matrix because what gets measured gets done. You don't throw such pronouncements around just for soundbyte," Ortega added. (Where will the savings come from? She should present a matrix in her next press conference.) "Right track" In the same press conference, Ortega also responded to the comments made by Senator Joel Villanueva, who said that he is hopeful that the Supreme Court will resolve the petitions questioning the legality of the impeachment soon so the Senate will know if it is on the "right track." "Regardless of what the Supreme Court needs from the House and the Senate, those can be complied with. There is no problem with that. Pero klarong-klaro naman po ang ating Saligang Batas. The impeachment court is an entity on its own," Ortega said. "The Supreme Court has to resolve these legal questions brought to them, but holding the impeachment trial is a leadership call. Besides, the Senate impeachment court already constituted itself," Ortega added. "The Senate will try and must try [the impeachment case], no matter what," Ortega emphasized. The impeachment case put forward by the House accuses Duterte of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes mainly due to alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds and for threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., his wife Liza and his Speaker Martin Romualdez of Leyte, among others. Castelo has said that Duterte is "ready" if the impeachment will proceed. 'The Vice President is ready, she's been saying that. And she's eager to be able to present her case or her evidence in the impeachment court so that once and for all, all doubts cast on her will go away. And that's what she wants,' Castelo said. —VAL, 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.
