Hontiveros seeks realignment of P10M for Duterte’s book

Metro Manila, Philippines – Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said she finds it “improper” for Vice President Sara Duterte to request P10 million to distribute a children’s book she authored and will push for the realignment of the funding.

Duterte’s book, "Isang Kaibigan," was a hot topic on Tuesday over a heated exchange between Duterte and Hontiveros during a hearing on the Office of the Vice President’s proposed P2.037-billion budget for 2025.

Hontiveros’ questions about the book’s contents irked Duterte, who accused her of politicizing the matter.

During Wednesday’s Kapihan sa Senado forum, Hontiveros said she was shocked by the vice president’s “very inappropriate” behavior. She maintained that her questions were well within the Senate’s mandate to scrutinize government agencies’ budgets.

While the Senate committee on finance has recommended the OVP budget to the plenary, Hontiveros said she will propose an amendment to reallocate the P10 million to more deserving government projects.

“Dahil kung meron kang sinulat na libro, kung ikaw ang sumulat niyan, hindi dapat gamitan ng government funds at taxpayers money para ipamudmod,” Hontiveros said.

[Translation: Because if you wrote a book, if you are the author, you should not use government funds and taxpayers' money to distribute it.]

“I think it's a proper item for realignment,” she added.

Hontiveros also questioned the OVP distribution of the children’s book.

“Textbook ba yan? Approved ba ng DepEd?,” Hontiveros asked, referring to the Department of Education which Duterte previously led.

“Kung pag-usapan natin yung textbook problem ng DepEd, yung nakaraang dalawang taon, ang daming problema, di ba? So bakit inuna ang isang personally authored, kung siya ang sumulat niyan, personally authored na libro?,” she added.

[Translation: Is that a textbook? Was it approved by the DepEd? If we discuss the textbook issues of the DepEd over the past two years, there have been many problems, right? So why prioritize a personally authored book, if she is the author of that book?]

Just as the press conference was about to end around noon, Hontiveros received a copy of Duterte’s book. She shared it to the media.

The book tells the story of "Kwago," an owl who was once abundant in food and surrounded by friends but lost everything in a storm. Kwago's friend, "Loro," came to the rescue, offering encouragement and helping him rebuild his home.

Hontiveros said she will also seek a realignment for projects of the OVP, which she believes duplicate those of other national government agencies, such as medical and burial assistance.