Just the numbers of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) COVID-10 Response efforts reflect the dedication and competence of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo with millions of fund raised and thousands of assistance distributed. However, their help had gone beyond the physical assistance given — it has been the frontliners’ strength during this pandemic.
Since the start of the community quarantine, the OVP’s COVID-19 response have been integral in providing assistance to frontliners and communities in need. Robredo was quick to respond to the struggling health care system with the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) sets, public transportation, and accessible residence by partnering with manufacturers, fashion designers, and various firms from the private sector.
The OVP became the private sector’s bridge to reach the frontlines. As of April 30, the end of their fundraising efforts, the OVP raised more than 122 million worth of assistance for the frontliners and communities in need, and 60 million for PPE sets and food and care packages through their Kaya Natin donation drive and several other donation drives.
Netizens praised Robredo for the extensive fundraising and partnership with fashion designers. Now, a total of 108,300 PPE sets have been distributed to 626 hospitals all over the country. In addition to that, a total of 945 institutions were served with PPE daily sets, medical supplies, and food and care packages. These medical supplies include alcohol, sanitizers, surgical masks, face shields, acrylic boxes, and gloves.
Not only PPE sets were given to frontliners, but letters, artworks, and stories, too. Robredo’s Istorya ng Pag-asa program wishes to extend the support and gratitude of the Filipinos to the frontliners. The first initiative was Sulat ng Pag-asa wherein anyone can send their letters and artworks for the frontliners. While the second initiative, Salamat sa Pag-asa, focuses on the inspiring stories of frontliners and Filipino citizens who have helped or were helped amid the enhanced community quarantine.
The frontliners were given priority in her response. In the first weeks of community quarantine, there was a lack of public transportation and residence for the frontliners living far from Metro Manila. Pharmacists, security personnel, clerks, and many more frontliners benefited from the shuttle services which carried 440 passengers a day and the 12 dormitories in Metro Manila which also had wifi and laundry services. On top of these, OVP arranged hair services and gave 10 units of motorcycles with 20 helmets for the dormers through it’s Angat Buhay partners.
Aside from accommodating the frontliners, the OVP also bought 14 million-worth of test kits made by scientists from the University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health at Philippine Genome Center. Starting April 24, they had distributed the extraction kits to accredited testing centers not yet reached by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The OVP’s latest project is a cash-on-delivery mobile phone application, Community Mart. With a click, Filipinos can shop vegetables, meat, and anything in the wet market. Currently, the access is limited to helping small market vendors and tricycle drivers near the Kamuning Market, the pilot barangay.
Communities in need, shelters, and checkpoints also received hot meals and snacks and relief packs with vegetables, face masks, and mattresses worth seven million.
- “Kailangan nating magkaisa, magtulungan, at ipamalas ang buong lakas ng sambayanang nagbabayanihan sa ilalim ng iisang layunin,” Robredo stated in her report last April 28. She encourages Filiipinos to participate in her campaigns which are easily accessible through her Facebook page.
Sources:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/VPLeniRobredoPH/posts/?ref=page_internal
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