Senator Risa Hontiveros holds VP Sara’s ‘Isang Kaibigan’ ebook throughout the Kapihan sa Senado discussion board on Wednesday, in Pasay Metropolis. Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.internet
Vice President Sara Duterte’s youngsters’s ebook was envisioned to encourage the youth to learn—to not additional her political ambitions, the Workplace of the Vice President (OVP) mentioned on Wednesday, fielding criticism about her purported use of public funds for self-promotion.
A day after Duterte was questioned a couple of P10-million allocation within the OVP’s 2025 price range request for the printing of the storybook titled “Isang Kaibigan (A Buddy),” OVP spokesperson Michael Poa denied that it was supposed to be a marketing campaign materials for the 2028 presidential elections.
“The ebook was made in 2023, and something that has to do with the elections is way from the Vice President’s thoughts,” Poa instructed the Inquirer by cellphone.
In accordance with the OVP spokesperson, the workplace plans to print some 200,000 copies of the ebook for distribution nationwide.
“Let’s peg it at P50 [per book] and the price range will likely be used for the printing. I’d like to emphasise that this may undergo bidding procedures underneath the procurement legislation,” Poa mentioned.
Because of this the OVP can have printing firms bid for the mission and throughout the course of, might even safe a lower cost, he mentioned.
Throughout a Senate price range listening to on Wednesday, Duterte tussled with Sen. Risa Hontiveros relating to the allocation, as the previous refused to reply the latter’s questions and accused the senator of “politicizing” her workplace’s price range request.
Bundled objects
The ebook will likely be bundled along with different objects in “loot baggage” for the “Pagbabago Marketing campaign, A Million Learners and Timber” program. The luggage are to be distributed to 200,000 learners, Poa mentioned.
Every bag may also include a raincoat, college provides, together with pens, pencils, sharpeners and notebooks, and a dental hygiene package that features a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste.“Pagbabago” is amongst Duterte’s initiatives within the OVP, which is requesting P100 million in funding for all the program, together with the P10 million for the printing of Duterte’s ebook.
Poa famous that “Isang Kaibigan” was first launched at Esteban Abada Elementary Faculty in Quezon Metropolis in November 2023.
No authorities funds have been used for the publication of the ebook, he mentioned.
However Hontiveros stood agency that it was “improper” of Duterte to spend P10 million in public funds to publish her personal ebook.
“Clearly, the aim is to introduce herself to youngsters in hard-to-reach areas,” the senator mentioned a day after she and Duterte had a barbed alternate on the Senate.
“As for the P10-million (price range) merchandise for the ebook, I believe in precept (it’s an) improper request as a result of if it was certainly (Duterte) who wrote that ebook, authorities funds shouldn’t be used for its distribution,” she mentioned on the Kapihan sa Senado information discussion board.
Combative stance
Greater than that, Duterte’s demeanor throughout the Senate listening to was “actually very inappropriate,” Hontiveros mentioned.“I used to be startled bodily,” she mentioned of Duterte’s combative stance throughout her questioning. “My query [was] particularly reasonable.”
The Senate management defended Hontiveros, with Senate President Francis Escudero stating that their colleague had raised “legitimate questions” concerning the OVP’s spending plan.
“I wish to assume that the Senate was merely performing its function and can proceed to carry out its function by way of our particular person members,” he instructed reporters.
Sen. Grace Poe, who presided over the OVP’s price range listening to as chair of the Senate finance committee, agreed that it was Hontiveros’ responsibility as a senator to dissect the deliberate bills of each authorities workplace.
In accordance with her, Hontiveros’ query was “properly throughout the strains of the listening to’s agenda.”
“No line merchandise within the price range paperwork needs to be above scrutiny and questioning,” Poe confused.
Learn-along periods
Within the Inquirer interview, Poa mentioned Duterte supposed to have “read-along” periods with college students as soon as the books have been prepared for distribution.
The ebook, a tender copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer, tells of an unlikely friendship between an owl and a parrot, who helps the previous rebuild his nest broken by a storm.
The creator’s web page exhibits a portrait of Duterte describing her present and former positions within the authorities. “She is a real pal,” the final line goes.
Duterte’s ebook instantly drew backlash on social media following her testy alternate with Hontiveros, with some caricaturing it and others accusing her of early campaigning for the 2028 polls.
However Poa, echoing his superior’s assertion, mentioned such speak was untimely.
“The thrust of the ebook is to encourage studying to our youth and that’s the larger subject right here,” he mentioned.
The ebook can also be not on the market and will likely be distributed free of charge, based on Poa.
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“You can not purchase this ebook. It’s not on the market and the price range we’re looking for will likely be for printing alone, let me make clear it,” he mentioned.
