PASIG CITY — The Office of the Vice President has intensified its social and medical services as it forged alliances with other agencies.

Lawyer and OVP Spokesperson Reynold Munsayac on Thursday said the OVP is in talks with the Department of Health (DOH) to provide additional medical support for indigent Filipinos in paying their hospital bills.

“The OVP is also now coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) for the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients Program (MAIPP) and they have identified 31 public hospitals where the OVP and DOH can
provide funds for purposes of helping those who will not be able to completely pay their hospital bills,” Munsayac said during the joint press conference with the Department of Education Thursday.

The undertaking will supplement the current medical assistance under the Public Assistance Program extended by the OVP which includes hospital bills, medicines and laboratory fees.

MAIPP will provide financial aid to help individuals settle their hospital bills.

Since July 1, the OVP has been implementing medical and burial assistance to Filipinos through the seven satellite offices around the country.

“The OVP has already processed 5,645 applications for medical and burial assistance amounting to P73,178,564.12 as of 26 August 2022. The amount P36,251,883.74 was already released to 3,089 recipients,” Munsayac said.

Aside from the move to partner with DOH, Munsayac said the OVP also recently requested funds from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to assist more clients in their needs.

“The OVP also recently met with the officials of DSWD for the grant of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), a financial aid to qualified individuals that will be distributed through the OVP satellite (offices),” he said.

Munsayac also gave updates on the OVP’s Libreng Sakay Program which was launched on August 3.

“The Libreng Sakay Program has already benefitted a total of 32,905 passengers from August 3 to 25. As expected, the two buses using the EDSA route served the most number of passengers, totalling to 7,407 for just a period of seven days from August 19 to 25,” the spokesperson added.

Munsayac also revealed that additional projects will be implemented next year, which mainly comprises the OVP’s P2.2-billion budget for 2023.

“Yung bulto ng ating OVP budget, papasok po talaga doon sa mga basic social services na pino-provide natin ngayon,” he said.

“Under financial subsidy, andiyan po yung ating medical assistance, burial assistance, ang ating libreng sakay, ang ating [incoming] livelihood programs na Magnegosyo Ta ‘Day atsaka Peace 911,” he added. 

OVP MEDIA