The Office of the Vice President defended Wednesday Vice President Sara Duterte’s children’s book after her office requested a P10 million (US$177,248) allocation in the 2025 national budget so that the book could be distributed to learners. 

OVP spokesperson Atty. Michael Wesley Poa said the Vice-President’s book “Isang Kaibigan” was launched in November last year and used as a teaching tool to encourage reading. He said Duterte, who previously served as education secretary, used the book during her storytelling segment when she visited schools.

“The very purpose of the book is reading and to be honest, pagdating sa larangan ng budget, I think there’s a bigger discourse than just the book. Maganda naman ang hangarin ng libro…We need to improve ‘yung reading ng learners,” he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

On Tuesday Vice President Duterte confirmed she is seeking P10 million in next year’s budget so that the book could be distributed to learners.

Poa said the Vice-President hopes to give out copies of “Isang Kaibigan” along with school bags and school supplies to learners next year.

“Itong book na ito ay parte po ito ng Pagbabago bags, ito ‘yung schoolbags na binibigay natin sa ating mga learners. May laman na school suppies and dental kits. Isasama na rin next year ‘yung libro,” he said.

The Vice President’s book was just one of the topics tackled during Tuesday’s budget hearing at the Senate, with VP Duterte and Sen. Risa Hontiveros trading barbs over the OVP’s proposed budget.

During the hearing, Duterte criticized Hontiveros’ line of questioning as an example of politicking and said she will send a copy of the book to the senator.  

She also accused the senator of seeking her help when Hontiveros ran for senator in 2016.

Hontiveros, however, countered that she was just asking about the contents of the book since the OVP was asking the government to fund its printing and distribution using taxpayers' money. 

'I don't appreciate the attitude': Sara Duterte, Risa Hontiveros in heated exchange

Copies of the book posted on social media showed the book is about animals talking about the value of friendship.

In the interview, Poa denied that Hontiveros' questions about Duterte's book led to the harsh exchange between the Vice-President and the senator.

What triggered the Vice-President's reaction, he said, was when Hontiveros said she would make a motion at the proper time to realign the budget of the OVP's flagship programs to key government agencies to avoid duplication. This was after Duterte explained that many people come to her office seeking financial aid for medical, educational and other needs. 

“’Yun ‘yung trigger kaya nag react ang ating VP. Napopolitika ang budget dahil nga if you lodge the budget of the OVP’s flagship programs sa ibang ahensya, parang tinanggalan mo na ng function ‘yung ating OVP,” he said.

He said the OVP’s flagship programs are not a duplication but an augmentation of the government’s other programs.

He noted that even Duterte’s predecessors gave out financial aid to the needy. 

'PARANG PROPAGANDA'

A party-list lawmaker, meanwhile, said she will oppose the P10 million proposed budget for Vice-President Sara Duterte's children's book, which she described as a form of propaganda.

"Itong libro na ito, hindi data payagan ito kasi siya na 'yang namumulitika. Hindi pwedeng pondohan ng gobyerno ang isang libro na siya ang author at ipamimigay sa tao. Pag ginawa ito, ayan, kahit sinong government official pwedeng gawin 'yan," Rep. France Castro said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview. 

She added: "Hindi naman kailangan 'yang libro na 'yan, parang propaganda book." 

She questioned why the book had a large photo of the Vice-President on its last page, noting that author's usually just put a small photo on the back cover of their books. 

"Parang epal 'yan. 'Yang book na 'yan epal 'yan. Gagamitin ang pondo ng mamamayan para sa kanyang sariling propaganda." 

Castro said she was also not surprised by the Vice-President's attack against Hontiveros during Tuesday's budget hearing. "Parang style niya ‘yun dahil nasusukol siya doon sa hindi magandang gawi. Parang nagbubuga siya, parang pusit," she said. 

She noted questions about the OVP's budget are important since many of the OVP's programs are similar to the programs of line agencies.