During a Senate budget hearing, Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Risa Hontiveros engaged in a tense exchange over a P10 million budget allocation for a children’s book authored by Duterte. The confrontation arose as the Office of the Vice President (OVP) proposed a P2.037 billion budget for 2025.
Hontiveros questioned the necessity of the OVP’s programs, which she noted were similar to those of existing government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, and Department of Labor and Employment. She suggested that the budget for these programs be allocated to the corresponding agencies instead.
The discussion took a heated turn when Hontiveros asked about the “Pagbabago Campaign,” which includes distributing bags to one million students containing the children’s book “Isang Kaibigan” (“A Friend”). When pressed for details about the book’s content and cost, Duterte deflected by accusing Hontiveros of politicizing the budget hearing.
“Another example of politicizing the budget of the government,” Duterte remarked, further alleging that Hontiveros had a personal issue with the book because it bore Duterte’s name, which could influence voters. Hontiveros countered, expressing frustration over Duterte’s repeated accusations of politicization, stating, “Budget hearing po ito. Hindi po lahat about you.” (This is a budget hearing. Not everything is about you.)
Despite the intense exchange, the OVP’s budget proposal was submitted to the plenary. Notably, for the first time during Duterte’s term, the OVP did not pursue confidential funds, following previous controversy over the rapid expenditure of such funds in 2022.