Leni Launches Angat Buhay NGO

Former vice president Leni Robredo led on Friday, July 1, the launch of non-government organization Angat Buhay, which aims to continue some of the programs she initiated over the past six years.

“Many of you are asking what we will do in Angat Buhay. Actually for those of you who are familiar with how Angat Buhay worked when we were working with all of you at the OVP (Office of the Vice President), it is more or less the same,” she said in Filipino.

“It is the same in the sense that it is still an anti-poverty program. Our key areas are the same. It is still anchored on partnerships with the private sector. But we expect that it will be better,” she added.

Robredo said the NGO’s corporate name would be Angat Pinas Inc. since the name “Angat Buhay” has already been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, although “the program will still be called Angat Buhay.”

According to her, the NGO will have four key areas: health, education, disaster relief and rehabilitation and community involvement.

Angat Kalusugan, she noted, seeks to address issues related to food security, nutrition and health care.

“Hunger and illness are the first adversary of those in the fringes of society. Stunting is a major problem,” she said, adding that the first initiative involves a nutrition and food security program in partnership with local government units, volunteers and private groups.

Meanwhile, Angat Edukasyon aims to continue education-related programs of Angat Buhay under the Office of the Vice President, including the establishment of community learning hubs and dormitories for students.

On Thursday, June 30, Robredo signed an agreement with the Rotary Club of Makati and the provincial government of Quezon to establish a dormitory for indigent students inside the Southern Luzon State University.

The former vice president said they would also establish a disaster fund to immediately provide support to those affected by typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other disasters.

There will be no local Angat Buhay chapters as the group’s objective is to capacitate organizations that will serve as their implementing partners, she explained.

“Moving forward, what we want to happen is to help strengthen and give capacity building to all volunteer groups that were established (during the campaign) so that these groups will remain independent,” Robredo said.

“The spirit that we want to develop in Angat Buhay is not to wait (for directions from us), but do what you want to do. Think of programs beyond the programs of Angat Buhay,” she added.

A two-day street and art festival marked the launch of the NGO. Some of the items that Robredo received during the campaign were also sold, with the proceeds to be donated to the organization.

Robredo said a museum containing other items from the campaign would also be established at the Angat Buhay office, which will soon be inaugurated.