MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo’s Metro Laylayan program provided various types of assistance to some 10,000 individuals across Metro Manila and nearby areas in its first year of implementation. 

On Wednesday, June 20, Robredo led the Metro Laylayan thanksgiving dinner held at her office in Quezon City to celebrate the program’s anniversary.

In attendance were 10 families who received livelihood packages from Metro Laylayan, as well as representatives from local government units (LGUs) and private companies that helped provide the assistance to the other beneficiaries of the program. 

The 10 families are as follows:

• Salarda family from Navotas
• Amaro family from Caloocan
• Baal and Antipuesto families from Parañaque
• Del Rosario family from Malabon
• Quirao family from Pasay
• Adorna family from Marikina
• Bobis family from Pateros
• Eraya family from Muntinlupa
• Tating family from Tanay, Rizal

Aside from helping families, the Metro Laylayan program also organized job fairs as well as social protection, medical, and legal services for all the Metro Manila barangays Robredo visited in the past year.

The assistance given to the Metro Laylayan beneficiaries were sponsored by the following partner organizations of the Office of the Vice President (OVP):

• Beta Zeta Mu
• Alpha Delta Mu
• Family Doctor
• Adventurers Multi-Purpose Cooperative
• Association of the Filipino Franchisers Incorporated
• Powerminds
• Reyes International School
• Hapinoy
• IBP Legal Desk
• DuBredo Army
• Metro United Livelihood Initiative
• DAMPI
• Alitaptap
• Edukasyon.ph
• Ayala Health 

In her speech on Wednesday, the Vice President said she loves visiting beneficiaries at their homes because she learns a lot from them. (WATCH: Robredo’s ‘laylayan’ tour reaches Navotas) 

“Isa ito sa mga bagay na gustong-gusto kong ginagawa – ‘yung pagbibisita sa mga bahay ninyo. Marami tayong mga kuwentong napupulot, ‘di ba?” said Robredo. 

(This is one of the things I love doing – visiting your homes. That’s because I hear a lot of stories, right?) 

“Kuwento ng pagpupunyagi, kuwento ng pagpapagod, kuwento ng paghihirap. Pero parati, inspirasyon ‘yung parang nadarama natin pag-alis doon sa mga bahay ‘nyo kasi nakikita natin na kahit anong hirap ‘yung pinagdadaanan, punung-puno lagi ng pag-asa,” she added.

(You share stories about triumph, perseverance, hardships. But I always feel inspired after leaving your homes because I can see that despite the obstacles, you are all still full of hope.)

Metro Laylayan is part of Robredo’s flagship anti-poverty program Angat Buhay. Given its low budget, the OVP does not fully subsidize Angat Buhay. Instead, the OVP links private companies and non-governmental organizations with LGUs to provide assistance to families in need. – Rappler.com