VP office inks partnerships with gov’t agencies to offer jobs, legal services 

THE OFFICE of Vice President (OVP) Sara Duterte-Carpio on Wednesday inked partnerships with the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) to assist those searching for jobs or asking for legal help.  

“[Our office] is focused on peace and entrepreneurship. We’ve noticed that those who go here and in our satellite offices have different concerns, which are not aligned with the priority areas of the OVP,” Ms. Carpio said after signing a memorandum of agreement with DoLE and PAO at her office in Mandaluyong City.  

“This is just the beginning of establishing substantive and meaningful partnerships with government institutions. We hope to expand such partnerships for the benefit of our people,” she added.   

PAO can assign lawyers to the satellite offices of OVP in different regions, Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta said at the event. 

For his part, DoLE Undersecretary Felipe N. Egargo, Jr. said their offices across the country are ready to help the OVP in implementing a cash assistance program for disadvantaged and displaced workers, which is named TUPAD.   

The previous vice president, Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo, had utilized her office as a vehicle for the delivery of public services to marginalized Filipinos.   

Ms. Robredo, then head of the political opposition, was not given a Cabinet post as traditionally done with Philippine vice presidents. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza