Sen. Risa Hontiveros skims the pages of Vice President Sara Duterte's children's book "Isang Kaibigan." Office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros

MANILA — Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday received a copy Vice President Sara Duterte's children's book "Isang Kaibigan," which was the subject of their heated exchange at the Senate the previous day.

"Natanggap na po natin ang libro," Hontiveros said on the video, with the caption "very demure, very mindful."

Hontiveros' question about the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) budget for the book riled up Duterte, triggering a heated exchange between them during the budget hearing on Tuesday.

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

Duterte said the children's book is about "friendship."

The OVP requested a P10 million allocation in the 2025 national budget so that the book could be distributed to learners. Duterte's office plans to print out 200,000 copies, costing P50 each.

HONTIVEROS EYES BUDGET REALIGNMENT  

Hontiveros said she would move for the realignment of some items in the OVP budget.

“At the proper time sa period of amendments, magpo-propose po ako ng amendment doon sa items sa programs ng OVP… and yung item na P10 million para sa pamumudmod ng mga kopya ng ‘Isang Kaibigan’ ay poprosan ko rin ng amendment,” Hontiveros remarked. 

(I will propose amendments to the OVP budget at the proper time including the P10 million for the distribution of “Isang Kaibigan”.) 

The senator denied politicizing Tuesday’s budget hearing. She added that asking about the P10 million budget for “Isang Kaibigan” is warranted because government funds would be used. 

“Masikip na nga yung fiscal space natin at laging kulang ang pera ng ating mga departamento lalo na sa mga ganyang social protection programs,” Hontiveros said. “I think in principle improper request yan dahil kung meron kang sinulat na libro, kung ikaw ang sumulat niyan, hindi dapat gamitan ng government funds at taxpayers money para ipamudmod.” 

(Our fiscal space is already tight and we always lack funding for our other departments, especially for social protection programs… I think in principle that is an improper request because if you wrote a book, the government's money should not be used for distribution.)

'MAGANDA ANG HANGARIN'

OVP spokesperson Atty. Michael Wesley Poa said the book was launched in November last year 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.

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 supplies and dental kits. Isasama na rin next year ‘yung libro,” he said.

CONGRESS POWER TO EXAMINE BUDGET

The OVP acknowledged the power of Congress to scrutinize its proposed budget for next year.

"Wala tayong problema sa masusing pag-aaral sa mga mungkahi pagdating sa budget proposals for 2025 dahil iyan naman ang purpose ng budget hearings, para talagang mahimay natin kung anu-ano ang mungkahi ng bawat ahensya ng gobyerno," OVP spokesperson Michael Poa told ABS-CBN News.

"We believe there is a need to examine the budget carefully dahil obviously pera ng taumbayan iyan," he said.

Poa said Duterte only provided the "context" when she defended the OVP's budget.

"Nagsabi siya na napupulitika kadalasan ang mga ahensya na kalaban kuno. That is why nagsimula siya magsalita about pamumulitika. Ang pakiramdam niya talaga ay kailangan bigyan ang taumbayan ng kabuuang konteksto ng lahat ng ito," he said.

Asked if DepEd should head the "Isang Kaibigan" book distribution, Poa insisted that OVP has separate social welfare programs apart from other government agencies.  

"Kapag lumapit sa amin ng educational assistance, kapag humingi ng libro, humingi ng bag, humingi ng school supplies. Hindi naman natin dapat tinatalikuran ang ating mga kababayan dahil na nasa mandato rin naman ng OVP na tumulong in terms of good governance and social welfare services," Poa said.

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