Vice President Leni Robredo’s office is wrapping up the remaining week of relief operations for residents affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Cebu.
Robredo, in a Facebook post, said the Bayanihan Sugbuanon initiative will end on August 31 as her office will focus its attention on Metro Manila where COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
“However, our office remains committed to assisting frontliners and communities amid this crisis,” she said.
She added that the free ferry service and the local production of protective suits in Cebu will still continue.
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) started its COVID-19 response operations in Cebu last July when it was under the general community quarantine.
Under the initiative, Robredo said there were 11,768 passengers provided with shuttle service that covered four routes in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue City, Talisay City, and Naga, as well as the towns of Consolacion and Talamban.
In Lapu-Lapu City, the OVP also served 602 passengers traveling daily between Olango Island and Mactan through its ferry service.
This free transportation was made possible with the help of its private partners and 200 volunteers.
“We are grateful to all the volunteers and partners who helped them along the way, whose generosity and warmth made Cebu truly feel like home for our team,” she said.
Robredo’s office also provided nine dormitories to 232 frontliners and distributed P2.25 million worth of relief packs, meals, and hygiene kits.
Four hospitals and clinics in Cebu also received swabbing booths from the OVP. It likewise assisted Cebuanos that needed to undergo swab testing through the Swab Cab, a free transportation service to and from the Bayanihan Cebu Swabbing Center.
”At the core of our operations is a small team from our young OVP staff and the Vice President Security Detachment (VPSD), who held the fort for us during the past few weeks, spearheading one initiative after another,” Robredo said.