OVP moved to unified office for efficiency, not luxury

THE OFFICE of the Vice President (OVP) defended on Tuesday its decision to relocate its offices in Quezon City to a centralized one in Mandaluyong City, saying the move was to improve its efficiency and not for luxury's sake. 

In a recorded video, OVP spokesperson Reynold Munsayac said they have decided to secure a unified central office on the 11th floor of Robinsons Cybergate Plaza, Edsa corner Pioneer Street to streamline their services.

“Mas efficient din ho ‘yan, dahil hindi na tumatagal ang pag-ikot ng dokumento, ‘yung mga magpapapirma hindi na kailangan bumiyahe. So ‘yan po ay hindi luho, mas hinangad po namin ‘yung efficiency (This is more efficient, the transfer of documents, even the signatories no longer require transporting of papers. So this is not for luxury, we desire efficiency),” he said.

Munsayac also noted that criticisms against their office have “incomplete facts” on hand.

“Ang problema ho eh ‘yung iba nagkaroon agad ng conclusion nang hindi naman kumpleto ang kanilang facts (The problem is, others already have their conclusions without completing their facts first),” he said.

Before its transfer, the OVP previously had two separate offices at the Quezon City Reception House (QCRH) in New Manila and Ben-Lor building on Quezon Avenue.

He said contrary to some circulating articles, the use of QCRH is not for free.

“Ang hindi po alam ng karamihan, ‘yung nakaraang administrasyon, dalawa po ang lokasyon ng office of the Vice President… Noong pinuntahan po namin ‘yung lugar medyo masikip, siksikan ‘yung ibang empleyado, ‘yung iba ho, nagshe-share na lang ng lamesa (What most of people are unaware of is that during the previous administration, the OVP has two offices… When we went there, it’s not that spacious, the employees are crowded, others are even sharing tables),” Munsayac said.

One of the articles said “Clearly she finds the post of the vice president too small for her stature, beginning with the office in Quezon City left by her predecessor, which she rejected for being unsuitable, compliments of Mayor Joy Belmonte who allowed its use for free, insisting she gets her own building, bigger, paid for by the Filipino people and at her preferred location. Granted.”

The OVP's basic services including medical and burial assistance can also be accessed through their satellite offices in Dagupan, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Davao, Surigao del Sur, and Bacolod.(Stephanie Sevillano)