Sara Duterte Allocates P10 Million Budget of OVP to her Book “Isang Kaibigan”

VP Sara Duterte Snubs Question about her Authored Book

SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President allocated P10 million of the proposed 2025 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for the distribution of her book.

More than a month, it came as a surprise to many people that Vice Pres. Duterte resigned from being the Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary. On the reason behind her move, she initially just said that it is out of her compassion for the teachers and the students.

Sara Duterte, Bongbong Marcos 1
Photo Source: Democratic Erosion Consortium

The relationship between Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and Pres. Bongbong Marcos was questioned to which the VP recently addressed. The speculations came after the former left the Cabinet of the latter, ditched his 2024 State of the Nation (SONA) address, and chided the flood control activities of the government.

Previously, the finance department that Vice Pres. Duterte’s office is asking for a Php 2 billion budget for 2025. According to the Department of Budget and Management, there are no Confidential Funds in their budget proposal.

Sara Duterte
INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

Recently, the Senate finance committee held a hearing on the proposed 2025 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP). Vice Pres. Sara Duterte had a heated exchange with Senator Risa Hontiveros.

Risa Hontiveros 2
Photo Source: GMA Network

Hontiveros cited that the assistance programs of the OVP are parallel to those programs of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The Vice President cited the alleged politicized decision-making of the government agencies as the reason behind the proposed separate budget allocation.

According to the Vice President, there were instances when her office’s referrals to the DSWD were allegedly denied because of politics. The Senator expressed that she will make a motion to re-allocate the budget to the relevant state agencies.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros also asked about the Php 10 million budget allocated on the OVP’s proposed 2025 budget proposal for the distribution of the book authored by Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Based on the report, the book is entitled “Isang Kaibigan”.

Sara Duterte book
Photo from PhilStar

However, the Vice President snubbed the question and likened the move of the Senator of making a motion to re-allocate the budget to other agencies to a sort of alleged politicizing.

“Ang prolema niya kasi nakalagay yung pangalan ko doon sa libro at yung
libro na yan ibibigay namin sa mga bata at yung mga bata na yan may mga
magulang na boboto,”
the Vice President said.

Vice Pres. Sara Duterte said that she will send Sen. Risa Hontiveros a copy of the book that they plan to distribute to the children. The Senator reacted that it was a simple question but the VP allegedly kept on raising the issue as politicizing. She stressed that she does not appreciate that kind of attitute.

Vice Pres. Sara Duterte responded that she also cannot understand the attitude of Sen. Risa Hontiveros and she does not appreciate her behavior and attitude. The Senator responded that it is a budget hearing.

“This is public funds, and we’re making inquiries. Budget hearing po ito, hindi po lahat about you, pera po ito ng taumbayan,” Sen. Hontiveros said before Sen. Grace Poe intervened to remind them to stick to the topic.

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