The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Tuesday defended the recent transfer of its central office from Quezon City to Mandaluyong City, denying that it was a "luxury."

In a video statement, OVP spokesperson Reynold Munsayac answered critics and said that their decision to have one unified and the centralized office was for the sake of improving efficiency.

He explained that during the previous administration, the OVP had two headquarters.

“May opisina po sa Quezon City Reception House sa New Manila, magandang lugar, magandang lokasyon. Pero maraming empleyado naman ng Office of the Vice President ang pumapasok sa Quezon Avenue,” he added.

[There was an office in Quezon City Reception House in New Manila, it is a good place and good location. But many employees were also going to Quezon Avenue.]

Munsayac said when they first visited the office, the place was cramped and most of the employees were crowded and sharing tables.

For this reason, Vice President spox said it urged them to move to a centralized place where all employees, heads, and officials are working together.

“Mas efficient din po ‘yan dahil hindi na tumatagal ang pag-ikot ng dokumento dahil ang pagpa-pirma ay hindi na kailangan bumyahe. Ayan po ay hindi luho, mas hinangad namin ang efficiency,” he explained.

[This is more efficient because documents can easily be signed and no longer require to be transported. This is not luxury, we desire efficiency.]

Vice President Sara Duterte led the opening of their new unified central office in Mandaluyong City last Sept. 12.

“Pinagsikapan natin na magkaroon tayo ng opisina kung saan ang mga empleyado ng Central Office ng OVP ay nasa iisang gusali lamang dahil nais nating maging mas epektibo, mas matipid, at mas mapabilis ang ating trabaho dito sa Central Office,” Duterte earlier said in her Facebook post.