Sara Duterte to launch livelihood program, open more satellite offices

Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio during an ambush interview. Image from DepEd / Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President will launch a livelihood program called “Mag Negosyo Ta’ Day,” which Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio first implemented in Davao City when she was mayor.

The program aims to provide “inclusive financial empowerment to women and members of the LGBTQ sectors,” OVP spokesman Atty. Reynold Munsayac said.

“Qualified beneficiaries will be entitled to a grant of 20,000 pesos capital and will undergo basic business management training,” he said in a press briefing.

The training covers livestock, sari-sari stores, goat dispersal, native chicken, and mini meat processing, Munsayac said.

“This program will definitely stimulate economic activity, generate employment and spur economic growth,” he said.

More satellite offices

The OVP also announced plans to open additional satellite offices across the country to make its services and programs more accessible to the public.

Upon Duterte-Carpio’s assumption into office, the OVP set up six satellite offices in the cities of Dagupan, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Davao, and Tandag in Surigao del Sur.

Its headquarters, meanwhile, is housed in an office building in Mandaluyong City.

The satellite offices give medical and burial assistance to those in need, the OVP earlier said.

“The OVP intends to open additional satellite offices to expand the reach of its social services, programs to more marginalized communities,” Munsayac said in the briefing.

So far, the OVP has already processed claims for medical and burial assistance amounting to over P16.5 million and released over P7.4 million to qualified recipients, Munsayac said.

He added that the OVP is also “evaluating” other basic social services that it can offer to the public, apart from the existing medical and burial assistance and the upcoming livelihood program.

EDV/abc