Robredo focusing efforts on poverty alleviation
Published Jan 23, 2020 12:00 am
By Raymund Antonio
The transformation of people in need and those who put others before themselves have kept her going to address the problem of poverty despite the political noise in the country, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Thursday.
Vice President Leni Robredo (VP LENI ROBREDO / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Robredo, in her remarks before the Rotary Club of Manila at the New World Hotel, gave her word to continue helping the poor from far-flung areas even as obstacles were thrown her way.
While she noted her past three and a half years in office have been “extremely challenging,” Robredo highlighted the “immense value” of going to places that were “inconvenient” but where there is the “greatest need.”
“Despite the political noise and the baseless attacks against me and our office, seeing the faces of those in need in the poorest, farthest, and smallest communities is precisely what keeps me going,” she said. “We need to do everything we can to uplift the lives of our people.”
Robredo shared some of her experiences as Vice President, from transforming her office into an advocacy-driven one to improve the lives of poor Filipinos and empower them, to taking on the challenge of being co-chair of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).
The Vice President spoke of the Angat Buhay beneficiaries whose lives were transformed during the weekly luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Manila. Angat Buhay is Robredo’s flagship anti-poverty program.
She mentioned the story of students in Sumilao, Bukidnon; Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte; and Balangkayan and Salcedo in Eastern Samar, where the dropout rate is high because they have to walk far to attend school.
Robredo also cited the construction of 72 housing units for residents displaced by Marawi siege and the delivery of relief assistance to calamity-stricken areas in Batanes, North Cotabato, Davao Del Sur, and Batangas.
Given the limitations of her office, Angat Buhay forges partnerships with the private sector to provide assistance to people in need such as the construction of dormitories and classrooms, and the provision of livelihood and relief goods, among others.
The Office of the Vice President is currently implementing the poverty-alleviation program in 200 localities, benefitting 400,000 people.
“These transformations we see among our people drive us to do the work that we do, and they keep me going despite the challenges of being vice president at a time such as this,” Robredo said.
“I held a strong conviction that I cannot let the attacks and difficulties thrown my way hold me back from doing the work that I was tasked to do for our people. Now that I am already halfway through my term, this is the same conviction that inspires me and my team to work harder every single day and to do better.”
The vice president exhorted the Rotarians to take part in anti-poverty efforts for poor Filipinos.
“The past three and a half years, we learned that the more we give of ourselves for the last, the least, and the lost with no thought of return, the more we gain. That when we heed the Rotarian call to serve and help our fellow Filipinos, that is where we truly find purpose and success.”
Vice President Leni Robredo (VP LENI ROBREDO / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Robredo, in her remarks before the Rotary Club of Manila at the New World Hotel, gave her word to continue helping the poor from far-flung areas even as obstacles were thrown her way.
While she noted her past three and a half years in office have been “extremely challenging,” Robredo highlighted the “immense value” of going to places that were “inconvenient” but where there is the “greatest need.”
“Despite the political noise and the baseless attacks against me and our office, seeing the faces of those in need in the poorest, farthest, and smallest communities is precisely what keeps me going,” she said. “We need to do everything we can to uplift the lives of our people.”
Robredo shared some of her experiences as Vice President, from transforming her office into an advocacy-driven one to improve the lives of poor Filipinos and empower them, to taking on the challenge of being co-chair of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).
The Vice President spoke of the Angat Buhay beneficiaries whose lives were transformed during the weekly luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Manila. Angat Buhay is Robredo’s flagship anti-poverty program.
She mentioned the story of students in Sumilao, Bukidnon; Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte; and Balangkayan and Salcedo in Eastern Samar, where the dropout rate is high because they have to walk far to attend school.
Robredo also cited the construction of 72 housing units for residents displaced by Marawi siege and the delivery of relief assistance to calamity-stricken areas in Batanes, North Cotabato, Davao Del Sur, and Batangas.
Given the limitations of her office, Angat Buhay forges partnerships with the private sector to provide assistance to people in need such as the construction of dormitories and classrooms, and the provision of livelihood and relief goods, among others.
The Office of the Vice President is currently implementing the poverty-alleviation program in 200 localities, benefitting 400,000 people.
“These transformations we see among our people drive us to do the work that we do, and they keep me going despite the challenges of being vice president at a time such as this,” Robredo said.
“I held a strong conviction that I cannot let the attacks and difficulties thrown my way hold me back from doing the work that I was tasked to do for our people. Now that I am already halfway through my term, this is the same conviction that inspires me and my team to work harder every single day and to do better.”
The vice president exhorted the Rotarians to take part in anti-poverty efforts for poor Filipinos.
“The past three and a half years, we learned that the more we give of ourselves for the last, the least, and the lost with no thought of return, the more we gain. That when we heed the Rotarian call to serve and help our fellow Filipinos, that is where we truly find purpose and success.”