MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) under Sara Duterte – Carpio has opened six satellite offices across the country.
Duterte – Carpio’s spokesman, lawyer Reynold Munsayac ,on Monday that the OVP satellite offices were already opened in cities Dagupan, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Davao and Tandag in Surigao del Sur.
The satellite offices were launched last Friday, July 1, the first day of Duterte – Carpio’s term. These offices are open to the public during office hours from Monday to Friday.
With these offices, the public can easily raise their concerns with the OVP, said Duterte-Carpio.
“Sa aking unang buong araw bilang bise presidente, nagbukas po tayo ng mga satellite office sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng bansa upang matulungan ang ating mga kababayan na magkaroon ng madali at agarang access sa mga serbisyong mula sa Office of the Vice President,” Duterte posted on social media site Facebook on Saturday evening.
(In my first full day as vice president, we opened satellite offices in different parts of the country to help our fellow Filipinos to have easy access to services of the Office of the Vice President.)
Munsayac said the opening of the satellite offices was part of the vice president’s “earnest efforts” to make sure the OVP is closer to the people.
“These satellite offices were opened to assist individuals to access help, and for swifter response in times of disasters,” Munsayac said in a statement.
He said that with the establishment of satellite offices, individuals needing assistance from the Vice President would no longer need to travel to Metro Manila as the managers assigned in these satellite offices could provide the assistance needed by the public.
The OVP said the offices were not set up per region but were handpicked strategically for their location. A major consideration is proximity and accessibility to other areas or islands.
Additional offices will be added once the initial six areas are fully operational, the OVP added.
Appointed managers of the OVP satellite offices were Michael Angelo Sotto Saavedra (Zamboanga), Ma. Constancia Corominas – Lim (Cebu), Regina Generose Tecson (Davao), Alan Tanjuakio (Tacloban), Rolmar F. Basalan (Surigao), and Marc Brian C. Lim (Dagupan).
Earlier, former Vice President Leni Robredo’s camp said that the transition of the vice presidency has been “smooth,” and continuing their programs depends on Duterte – Carpio’s decision.
Apart from serving as the country’s second highest leader, Duterte will also head the Department of Education.