OVP bares achievements under Binay

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has released the data on the number of Filipinos that were provided with direct support and assistance by the office under the term of outgoing Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Citing the transition report submitted to the camp of vice president-elect Leni Robredo, the OVP said it has served 56,722 Filipinos that sought medical, burial and transportation assistance from July 2010 to March 2016.

It said the office has provided relief assistance to 642,143 families, medical and dental checkup to 143,251 beneficiaries, educational support to 124,416 children of indigenous groups, and wheelchairs to 734 differently abled individuals.

The programs were funded through the annual budget provided to the second highest position in the country.

The figures were on top of those who were assisted by Binay in his capacity as housing development czar and presidential adviser for overseas Filipino workers’ concerns.

Earlier, OVP chief of staff Benjamin Martinez Jr. said the team of Robredo would have fiscal flexibility, as most of the budget for this year is still intact.

Martinez said only around P78.8 million of the P500-million budget has been spent by the outgoing administration.

The funds, lodged under the office’s maintenance and other operating expenses, may be used for various programs that the sitting vice president would wish to pursue.

The camp of Robredo, headed by her transition team leader Boyet Dy, expressed gratitude to the camp of Binay for the assistance in relation to the transition.