VP’s anti-poverty program receives private sector boost
The private sector supporters and partners of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) Angat Buhay anti-poverty program reaffirmed their commitment to helping the less privileged and vowed to join Vice President Leni Robredo in her advocacies to alleviate poverty.
“For next year, we plan to do more of the same and something different,” said Gian Valero, president of Solanaland Inc., in a video uploaded by OVP to its official Facebook page. Solandland Inc. bared plans to conduct more feedings programs, distribute solar kits, and set up barangay centers in the coming year as part of the Angat Buhay program. “We are planning to do some barangay center setups we weren’t able to complete this year. Marawi is the location we really want to assist,” he said. The OVP has more than 200 partners from both the private and public sector. Robredo’s office launched Angat Buhay, which forges partnerships among private sectors, aid groups and poor local government units in need of assistance. The program so far benefited 89,958 families from 176 communities around the country since its launch in October 2016.
The program received R176.4 million worth of assistance in the form of food packs, livelihood trainings, classrooms, school supplies, solar kits and generators, among others. Chaco Molina, executive director of Roxas Foundation, recognized that the OVP is doing something good with Angat Buhay. “One thing we like working in Angat Buhay is the philosophy that people have to come together,” he said. Valero said his company will continue to address specific poverty issues with Robredo’s office. “It really depends on what is needed by the people around us. If the Angat Buhay program can let us know how we can help better, we will be more than happy to participate,” he said.