Sara Duterte opens another OVP satellite office in Mindanao

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte is accompanied by Cotabato City Mayor Bruce Matabalao, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim and Maguindanao del Norte Gov. Abduraof Macacua (Photos courtesy of Mayor Matabalao)

COTABATO CITY – Vice President Sara Duterte opened her satellite office here on Sunday to help people in the Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) get easier access to social services that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) is offering to indigents.

BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, Cotabato City Mayor Bruce Matabalao, and Maguindanao del Norte Gov. Abduraof Macacua joined the Vice President in the ribbon cutting and simple program at the OVP satellite office located along Sinsuat Avenue.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte is accompanied by Cotabato City Mayor Bruce Matabalao, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, and Maguindanao del Norte Gov. Abduraof Macacua (Photos courtesy of Mayor Matabalao)

This is the fourth OVP satellite office in Mindanao and the country’s ninth since Duterte assumed office on July 1, 2022.

Aside from Cotabato City, Duterte has opened similar offices in Bacolod, Isabela, Dagupan, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Davao, and Tandag in Surigao del Sur. These are open to the public during office hours from Monday to Friday.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte is accompanied by Cotabato City Mayor Bruce Matabalao, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim and Maguindanao del Norte Gov. Abduraof Macacua (Photos courtesy of Mayor Matabalao)

Speaking during the brief program, Duterte said the opening of satellite offices was her earnest effort to make sure the OVP is closer to the people.

“The satellite offices were not set up per region but were hand-picked strategically for their location. A major consideration is their proximity and accessibility to other areas or islands,” she told local officials of Cotabato City and BARMM.

Matabalao lauded Duterte for choosing the city for her satellite office’s location as it was strategic for the people of BARMM.

READ: Office of the Vice President opens 6 satellite offices