EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Vice-President Leni Robredo has an extensive background in terms of educational attainment. She graduated elementary in 1978 from Colegio de Santa Isabel and in the same university she graduated high school in 1982. In her tertiary education, she took up Bachelor of Arts in Economics in University of the Philippines- Diliman, where she graduated in the year 1986; she then took up Bachelor of Laws in University of Nueva Caceres and graduated in 1992; she then passed the Philippine BAR of 1997. Furthermore, Leni Robredo is a Doctor of Public Administration, Honoris Causa, granted by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in 2015; Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa, granted by the University of St. Anthony in Iriga City, Camarines Sur on April 19, 2017; and Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, granted by the University of the Cordilleras in Baguio City on August 31, 2017.

CREDENTIALS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Leni Robredo has served under all branches of the government (Legislative, Judiciary, and Executive). As a lawyer, she served the judicial branch of the government; she served as a Public Attorney for the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), in 1997-1999. As a congresswoman representing Camarines Sur, District 3 in 2013-2016, she served in the legislative branch of the government; where she passed 7 laws in total. As the Vice-President of the Philippines (June 30, 2016-present), she serves the executive branch of government.

Why is Leni Robredo’s track record considered to be exemplary and what makes her different from other candidates? Well, let’s list them down one by one to make digesting the information easier.

As an attorney, she served in the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) in 1997-1999, where she rendered legal assistance, counseling, and other legal services to indigent litigants to ensure their free access to the courts, as mandated by the Constitution.

As a congresswoman, she passed a total of 7 laws. Namely, without any order, the Philippine National Railways Charter Extension – Republic Act RA10638; Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 – Republic Act RA10742; Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act – Republic Act RA10708; Open High School System Act- Republic Act RA10665 (HB04085); Graphic Health Warnings Law – Republic Act RA10643 (HB04590); Decriminalizing Premature Marriage – Republic Act RA10655; Strengthening the Probation System – Republic Act RA10707.

As the Vice President of the Philippines, she launched the Angat Buhay Program as her way to address poverty reduction. This program partnered with 346 organizations with P456.07 million worth of resources mobilized to 563, 891 families and individuals, spanning to a total of 381 communities nationwide (data as of Q4 2021).

Why is Leni Robredo’s track record considered to be exemplary and what makes her different from other candidates? Well, let’s list them down one by one to make digesting the information easier.

COA gives OVP highest audit rating for the successive year. The Office of the Vice President said that state auditors gave an “unqualified opinion” on its financial report for the fiscal year 2020.

Stated by COA, “an unqualified opinion rating is considered to be the best opinion that a government agency can receive. COA gives such a rating when a government office has fairly presented its financial position and has its financial statements in order, in accordance with the Philippine Public Sector Accounting Standards.”

The OVP also received an “unqualified opinion” during the fiscal years of 2018 and 2019, thus making the 2020 report their third consecutive year.

Leni Robredo, with a total budget of Php 113 million for COVID-19 response, was able to allocate her friends appropriately. The breakdown of budget spent are: Php 68 million for PPEs, COVID-19 testing kits, respirators, and ventilators; Php 810,000 for locally produced PPEs; Php 15.5 million for assistance to LGUs; Php 13 million for necessities and support for frontliners, LSIs, volunteers, and staff; Php 6.66 million on food for families and community kitchen; Php 4.69 million on protection equipment for OVP staff in COVID-19 operations; and Php 4.26 million for hazard pay and support for employees.

REFERENCES

Bakit si Leni? fliers – Google Drive. (2013). Google.com. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1b3goNbMP1SIWFpQCtNaqt3W3Oa0WMhma?fbclid=IwAR2D7Rbm_b_lNHcYw5NAie3eAsozq1KG2ofqWM3_frN_7ZBJg7ZzDqJvjyc

City, I. (2021, January 28). ANGAT BUHAY PROGRAM. Isabela City Official Website. http://www.isabelacity.gov.ph/2021/01/28/news/angat-buhay-program/#:~:text=Angat%20Buhay%20Program%20is%20the%20anti-poverty%20flagship%20program,programs%20and%20projects%20that%20promotes%20holistic%20well%20being.?msclkid=1fe7805cc60411ec87dba0de6eb4a7f2

Galvez, D. (2021, June). COA gives OVP highest audit rating for third successive year. INQUIRER.net; INQUIRER.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1452941/ovp-gets-highest-coa-rating-for-third-straight-year?msclkid=beb10f7ec60211ec8eb80cada9d8732b

Telmo Solutions. (2013). Biography – Office of the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines. Ovp.gov.ph. https://ovp.gov.ph/content/biography.html?msclkid=b05caff4c60311eca317657d03bd9ab6

VP Leni projects and accomplishments from A-Z with infographics, articles, and charts – Google Drive. (2013). Google.com. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-CgmNbTrnfMZTjJuC-QtI7gs9mKfkqEJ?fbclid=IwAR0tZUm3tIyTRXnhKjXn2zhj7shiHfQ0eUthbw9v0FSKWnPZFxjWaXl0R4k

VP Leni Robredo_CVao7.16.2021.pdf. (2021). VP Leni Robredo_CVao7.16.2021.pdf. Google Docs. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RLhgEWzPh-a9414Q12fR_vg__9UXzfiY/view?fbclid=IwAR0hskt324f3RVswXBZfhwFClyvhrtJqHz-g_Jb-UExNNKn-8RXUEngMhdY

VP Leni Robredo – Mga Nagawa ni VP Leni. (2016). Lenirobredo.com. https://www.lenirobredo.com/mga-nagawa-ni-vp-leni#Congress

Without COVID-19 funding, audit shows OVP spent ₱113M for pandemic response. (2022). Cnn. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/7/2/OVP-COA-COVID-19-pandemic-spending.html?msclkid=66edb1b7c60511ec935e690564508679