Providing Legal Assistance Inside BJMP Handumanan
BACOLOD - The Office of the Vice President held a free legal assistance program at the BJMP Metro Bacolod District Jail in Barangay Handumanan on November 12, 2026. According to OVP Western Visayas Satellite Manager Dr. Chris Sorongon, the activity fulfilled a commitment made by Vice President Sara Duterte during her visit to the facility two years earlier. The program offered legal consultations, assistance with document processing, explanations of legal rights, and referrals through the Public Attorney's Office (PAO)-Bacolod, BJMP, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos College of Law, and volunteer lawyers.
Including Basic Health and Vision Services
The outreach also provided health-related services to the PDLs. Nurses conducted blood pressure and blood sugar checks, while invited optical clinics offered free eye examinations and distributed reading glasses. Combining legal and medical assistance in one activity gave beneficiaries an opportunity to address different concerns without having to seek each service separately. These services formed part of the OVP's anniversary outreach activities in the region.
Continuing Community Outreach Through School Visits
Following her visit to Sara Central Elementary School in Iloilo City on November 12, where she participated in Book Month activities, distributed school bags and supplies, and joined a tree-planting activity, Vice President Duterte traveled to Bacolod. According to the November 13 Bombo Radyo report, she was expected to visit several schools in the city for student activities that day. The OVP's Western Visayas office also reiterated its commitment to bringing government services closer to communities through its outreach programs.
