OVP: Transfer to Mandaluyong to improve efficiency

The relocation of the Office of the Vice President to the Robinsons Cybergate Plaza in Mandaluyong City was meant to make its operations more efficient, Vice President Sara Duterte's spokesman said on Tuesday.

Atty. Reynold Munsayac said that during the term of former Vice President Leni Robredo, the OVP had two locations—one at the Quezon City Reception House in New Manila, and another at the Ben-Lor Building on Quezon Avenue.

“Nung pinuntahan ho namin ‘yung lugar, medyo masikip, siksikan ‘yung ibang empleyado. ‘Yung iba ho nagsha-share na lang ng lamesa,” Munsayac said in a video recording.

(When we went to the place, it was quite cramped and the employees were crowded. Other employees shared tables.)

“Kaya naisip po namin na maganda ho siguro sa isang ahensya, lahat ng empleyado, pinuno, o opisyal, sama-sama lahat sa ilalim ng iisang bubong. Mas efficient din ho iyan dahil hindi na tumatagal ang pag-ikot ng dokumento, ‘yung mga magpapapirma, hindi na kailangang bumiyahe,” he added.

(So we thought, maybe it would be better in an agency, if all employees and officials worked together under one roof. It's also more efficient because it would no longer take long to process documents, and those who need to have them signed no longer have to travel.)

Munsayac said that the “permanent home and office” for the Vice President would result in stability and would reduce the OVP’s operating costs.

He said OVP employees would no longer be “uprooted” every time a new vice president was elected.

“‘Yan po ay hindi luho. Mas hinangad po namin ‘yung efficiency. Ang problema ho ay ‘yung iba, nagkakaroon agad ng konklusyon nang hindi naman kumpleto ang kanilang facts,” Munsayac said.

(That is not luxury. We wanted more efficiency. The problem is that other people immediately jump to conclusions without getting their facts straight.)

Duterte earlier said a permanent residence for the OVP would be the “singular legacy” she wanted to leave after her six-year term. —NB, GMA News