By Patricia Francia Lachica

The Office of the Vice President formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Public Attorney's Office (PAO) to provide legal assistance and employment for underprivileged Filipinos. 

"This is a formality ng initial na partnership na ginagawa na natin na referral between the Public Attorney's Office and the Department of Labor and Employment," said Vice President Sara Duterte. 

(This is a formality of the initial partnership that we are doing as a referral between the Public Attorney's Office and the Department of Labor and Employment)

"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. 

Meanwhile, PAO Chief Dr. Persida Rueda-Acosta said this is the first time the OVP and PAO had an MoU for underprivileged Filipinos who need accessible legal assistance. 

“Makakaasa po ang ating Pangalawang Pangulo Inday Sara na nakahanda po ang humigit kumulang 400 distrito ng Public Attorney’s Office sa buong kapuluan upang tumugon sa lahat ng referrals lalong lalo na ang mga maralitang dumudulog sa mga satellite offices at maging dito po sa tanggapang ito,” added Acosta. 

(Vice President Inday Sara can hope that approximately 400 districts of the Public Attorney's Office throughout the country are ready to respond to all referrals, especially the poor who come to the satellite offices and even here in this office)

Further, DOLE Undersecretary Felipe Egargo Jr. said their offices in different regions are geared to help the OVP for project TUPAD or "Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers."

“Sa pamamagitan ng memorandum of understanding, sila po ang magbibigay ng beneficiaries sa iba’t ibang rehiyon ng ating bansa, at kami naman po ang magbibigay ng pasahod doon sa mga mae-employ na mga workers na ibibigay ng OVP,” said Egargo Jr. 

(Through the memorandum of understanding, the OVP will provide the beneficiaries in different regions of our country, and we will provide the wages to the employable workers they have given)