The Office of Vice President Sara Duterte has already processed a total of PHP43,303,489 in medical and burial aid since she assumed office on July 1.

Vice presidential spokesperson Reynold Munsayac said PHP12,009,255 out of the PHP43.3 million has already been released to qualified beneficiaries from all the OVP satellite offices and the NCR office.

“Medyo magandang numero ho ito sa isang period na mahigit isang buwan lang (The numbers look good considering it’s just more than a month),” Munsayac said during the OVP and Department of Education Joint Press Conference here Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, Munsayac said the “Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service (PHABS) – Libreng Sakay” — launched on Aug. 3 only — has already recorded a total of 7,764 passengers who have availed of the free service in its first five days.

He added that the two buses intended for NCR have the most number of people served with 3,528 passengers on the NCR Bus 1, and 3,089 on the NCR Bus 2.

“So iisipin niyo po, ‘yung ganyang kadaming pasahero, eh malaki po yung naging katipiran nila sa gastos sa kanilang pagpunta sa kanilang trabaho (Come to think of it, the figures show how many passengers have benefitted, they have somehow saved with the free fare in going to work),” Munsayac said.

“Instead na gastusin pa nila sa pamasahe ay magagamit po nila sa ibang mga bagay na mas importante (Instead of spending them for their fare, they can use this on more important things),” he added.

The buses for the OVP Libreng Sakay Program are operating throughout Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao — with two buses in Metro Manila, one each in Cebu City, Bacolod and Davao City. (PNA)