The Office of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has already processed a total of P43,303,489.70 for its medical and burial assistance program.
Vice presidential spokesperson and lawyer Reynold Munsayac said that a total of P12,009,255.55 has been released to qualified beneficiaries from all the OVP satellite offices and the national capital region (NCR) office.
“Medyo magandang numero ho ito sa isang period na mahigit isang buwan lang,” Munsayac said during the OVP and Department of Education Joint Press Conference on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the OVP’s libreng sakay program has assisted 7,764 passengers in its first five days.
Munsayac said the two buses intended for NCR have the most number of people served with 3,528 passengers on NCR Bus 1, and 3,089 on NCR Bus 2.
“So iisipin niyo po, ‘yung ganyang kadaming pasahero, eh malaki po ‘yung naging katipiran nila sa gastos sa kanilang pagpunta sa kanilang trabaho,” Munsayac said.
“Instead na gastusin pa nila sa pamasahe ay magagamit po nila sa ibang mga bagay na mas importante,” he added.
The buses for the OVP Libreng Sakay Program are operating throughout Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao — with two buses in Metro Manila, one each in Cebu City, Bacolod, and Davao City.
The OVP and the Department of Transportation (DoTr) simultaneously launched on 3 August the “Libreng Sakay” program to help commuters in key areas nationwide during rush hours.
Duterte-Carpio, who initiated the implementation of the free transport ride, said she was hopeful the project will help Filipinos save fare expenses.