DAVAO CITY — Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday reminded that they are the key to the country’s development and sustainable growth.

“Makaingon gyud ko na ang sikreto sa kalambuan, naa jud sa mayor kay ang mayor jud ang direkta nga naa sa mga tao. Mao na’ng ang mayor pud ang makasabot kung unsa ang kinahanglan sa ilang mga komunidad. (I can really say that the mayors are the secret to development because they are directly connected to the people. That is why they know firsthand what are the needs in their respective communities),” Duterte, who was guest speaker in the Mindanao League of Municipalities here, said.

“Ang susi talaga ng tuloy-tuloy na kaunlaran ng ating bansa ay ang kagalingan, kahusayan at kaalaman ng ating mga mayors,” she added.

In her 31-minute message, Duterte reiterated the national development targets of the Marcos administration and its plans to achieve a sustainable life for all Filipinos.

She said the Office of the Vice President (OVP) is fully committed in supporting the Marcos Administration's 8-point socioeconomic agenda, and even enjoined everyone to help the government achieve its targets.

“In the next five years, the Philippine government will strive to improve food security; transportation; health care; education; and social services,” Duterte said.

“We will also work to reduce energy prices; exercise sound fiscal management; and improve bureaucratic efficiency,” she added.

Inclusive Governance

Since Duterte assumed office, the OVP has already established 9 satellite offices in Davao, Zamboanga, Cotabato, Tandag, Cebu, Bacolod, Tacloban, Isabela, and Dagupan to cascade down the projects of the central office in Mandaluyong such as the Medical and Burial Assistance Program.

Two Public Assistance Division (PAD) Extension Offices, in Lipa, Batangas and in Tondo, Manila, were also created to offer the same projects of the OVP.

Groundworks for establishing another satellite office in Region 5, have already started in hopes to serve the Bicolanos.

“Gibuhat namo ni tungod kay pagsulod namo sa OVP, nakita namo na ang katibuk-an sa ilahang programa sa medical and burial assistance nakasentro lang sa National Capital Region (We did this because when we entered the OVP, we saw that the entirety of the medical and burial assistance programs were centered only on the National Capital Region),” Duterte said.

Through the satellite offices, people no longer need to go to Manila to get the services and assistance of the government.

The Vice President also extended her appreciation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and to the members of the Congress for the support in the nationwide expansion of the Medical and Burial (MAB) Assistance Program.

Disaster Preparedness and Response

Duterte also shared the establishment of the OVP Disaster Operations Center (OVP-DOC), saying that calamity aid is one of the most requested asssistance, and that the OVP is always ready to assist the people, and strengthen disaster preparedness and emergency response through immediate and efficient relief operations.

“Nagaduol sila sa amoa mao to giparesan namo ang Office of the Vice President Satellite Office with the Disaster Operations Center na ang ilahang trabaho lang is maghulat ug tawag kung aduna’y kalamidad ug emergency. (They reach out to us that's why we paired the Office of the Vice President Satellite Office with the Disaster Operations Center whose job is to address affected Filipinos during calamities and emergencies),” Duterte said.

Empowerment of Marginalized Sectors

Duterte said the country is showing signs that it is on the right track to post-pandemic recovery, but there is still the need to ensure that marginalized sectors of the community have access to livelihood opportunities and programs that support the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

She cited the OVP’s Mag Negosyo Ta ‘Day (MTD) project, which helps women and members of the LGBTQI+ by augmenting their daily income, making them economically empowered and independent.

“Our marginalized sectors are often overlooked and cannot qualify for enterprise loans. They need access to capital and capacity-building programs to make them financially literate and business savvy,” Duterte said.

“Dili lang mi maghatag og capital funds to start a business, but tudluan pud sila kung unsaon magnegosyo para maging successful sa ilang ventures (So this is our goal for the MTD. We do not only provide capital funds to start a business, but also teach them how to do business to be successful in their ventures),” she added.

Duterte added that the OVP has partnered with the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Department of Trade and Industry for the financial literacy and capacity-building training of MTD beneficiaries.

Duterte, who is also Secretary of Education, also shared the recently launched the “PagbaBAGo: A Million Learners and Trees Campaign” which intends to provide students with one million bags containing school supplies and dental kits, plant one million trees for environmental sustainability, and promote family planning among parents.

She said that providing quick and immediate support for financially challenged and marginalized Filipinos needs to be complemented with long-term solutions.

“Naga-adto mi sa mga eskwelahan maghatag og bags dala ang mensahe sa responsible parenthood and family planning. Gina-istoryan pud namo ilang mga anak na kinahanglan makasabot sila unsa and importansya sa edukasyon sa ilang kinabuhi, pamilya, ug sa komunidad. (We go to schools to give bags while bringing the message of responsible parenthood and family planning. We also talk to their children that they need to understand the importance of education in their lives, family, and the community),” Duterte said.

“We always tell them that the greatest equalizer is education,” she added.

Duterte added that as LGUs, they have the responsibility to ensure that communities are secure and free from insurgency.

She cited the Peace 911, a project in Davao City where she served as mayor and now adopted by the OVP, transformed the far-flung community of the city's Paquibato District which used to be a stronghold of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Since the launch of Peace 911 in Paquibato District when Duterte was still mayor, Davao City has been declared “insurgency-free.”

“Just like I said, criminality and illegal drugs destroy the dreams we build for our youth, thereby destroying our future as a country,” Duterte said.

“Let us unite against these forces of evil that stagnate our development, feed on poverty, and sow seeds of terror and violence,” she added.

Duterte ended her message by thanking the mayors for their invaluable commitment and proactive participation in the national administration’s development agenda.

She also urged them to be proactive in building the capabilities of towns toward full autonomy and greater resiliency.

“Let us remain true to the call of public service as we ensure our communities’ progress and carry on with the task of nation-building with the utmost integrity and democratic accountability,” Duterte said.

“Magmadasigon kita sa atong tinguha nga magmugna og nasud alang sa kabataan ug mga kabataan nga moalagad sa atong nasud. (Let's be enthusiastic in our desire to create a country for children and children who will serve our country in the future,” she added.

OVP MEDIA