FORMER vice president Leni Robredo has revived the Bayanihan e-Konsulta (BEK) program through her Angat Buhay non-government organization in response to rising COVID-19 cases in the country.
“Dahil sa pagdami na naman ng COVID cases dito sa atin, magbubukas pong muli ang Bayanihan e-Konsulta! (Because of the rise again in the number of COVID cases, Bayanihan e-Konsulta will reopen!)” Robredo said on her Facebook page.
Robredo, a lawyer by profession, said over 1,100 people have signed up to join Bayanihan e-Konsulta to answer her call for volunteers but more volunteers may be needed depending on the program’s future needs.
She said the response of volunteers proves that the spirit of volunteerism is “alive and well” even after she lost to President Marcos last May.
The former vice president initially asked for 50 non-medical volunteers and 40 medical volunteers who will run the teleconsultation platform remotely from their homes.
“Remote set-up or work from home pa rin po ang lahat ng ating volunteers. Siguraduhing may sariling computer/laptop, smartphone, at internet connection para sa e-Konsulta (Our volunteers will still be under a remote set-up of work from home. Make sure you have your own computer/laptop, smartphone and internet connection for e-Konsulta),” Robredo said.
Under Robredo’s leadership, the program was able to assist at least 58,000 COVID-19 cases through the help of volunteers since it was implemented in April last year.
The BEK program also provided the public with free COVID-19 care kits such as paracetamol tablets, vitamins, thermometers, facemasks, oximeters, disinfectants, and alcohol.
Throughout its run, the Office of the Vice President’s teleconsultation service was able to cater to thousands of COVID-19 cases through the help of 947 doctors and 1,761 call and chat agents.
The OVP officially ended the BEK program last May 31.
The Office of the Vice President had to suspend its COVID-19 response projects during the campaign period for the May 9 national elections but the Commission on Elections (Comelec) eventually allowed it to continue implementing its programs such as the Vaccine Express, Swab Cab, and the Bayanihan E-Konsulta, especially because of the spread of the Omicron variant.
