Work will not yet be over for outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo after announcing on Friday night that the Angat Buhay program, the project she led in the past six years, will continue and turn into a non-governmental organization (NGO).
Robredo made the announcement during her thanksgiving party at the Ateneo De Manila University that was held after failing to win the presidency in the 2022 elections, based on the partial, unofficial poll results.
The vice president said the Angat Buhay NGO will start on July 1 or a day after she vacates the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
"Itutuloy tuloy natin ang pagsasama-sama. Bubuin natin ang pinakamalawak na volunteer network sa kasaysayan ng bansa (We will continue our unity. We will build the largest volunteer network in the history of the country)," she told the surprisingly still huge crowd that responded: "Sasama kami (We will join)."
Angat Buhay was first launched in October 2016 as contribution of the OVP, led by Robredo, in the fight against poverty.
The program aimed to bring together the public and the private sectors—organizations and individuals alike—to address the needs of families in the farthest and the poorest communities in the country.
Robredo assured her supporters that "we will continue helping those in the marginalized sectors and make contributions to uplift their lives. She said the project will not be selective.
"Ipapakita natin ang buong pwersa ng radikal na pagmamahal. Ito ngayon ang hamon sa atin: ang panatilihing magkarugtong ang ating mga bisig (We will show the full force of radical love. This is the challenge for us: to maintain our unity)," she added.
In continuing her program, Robredo said the spirit of her campaign, which was led by volunteerism, "must not die."
"Ang pinakalayunin ng gobyernong tapat ay ang pag-angat ng buhay ng lahat (The main purpose of an honest government is to uplift the lives of all)," she added.