Sara Duterte’s Book ‘Isang Kaibigan’; 3 Noted Controversies and Its Impacts on Public Education

Background: Sara Duterte’s Isang Kaibigan and Its Controversy

Isang Kaibigan (A Friend) is a children’s book authored by Vice President Sara Duterte. Intended to be a part of the Office of the Vice President (OVP)’s PagbaBAGo Campaign, the book was meant to provide moral and educational lessons to young students in remote areas of the Philippines. This initiative, spearheaded by Sara Duterte, involved distributing bags and educational materials, including the book, to children who often face barriers in accessing quality education. While the project aimed to promote values such as friendship, loyalty, and perseverance, it quickly became embroiled in controversy when the book’s ₱10 million budget allocation was scrutinized in a Senate hearing.

The Senate inquiry raised concerns about the rationale behind the significant budget for distributing a children’s book, particularly one tied so closely to Sara Duterte’s office and image. Critics began questioning whether the project was an appropriate use of public funds, and whether it reflected deeper issues in the Philippine education system, including misallocation of resources and ineffective planning.

Storyline and Purpose of Sara Duterte’s Isang Kaibigan

The storyline of Isang Kaibigan revolves around the friendship between two animals, Kwago (Owl) and Loro (Parrot). After a storm ravages Kwago’s home, Loro steps in to help, and the two characters bond over their shared experience of hardship. Through this simple narrative, Sara Duterte intended to teach children the importance of standing by each other during difficult times. The story emphasizes themes of friendship, loyalty, and cooperation, values that are central to Sara Duterte’s message for young Filipino students.

The book also aimed to foster a sense of hope and resilience among its young readers. Sara Duterte has often spoken about the need for positive role models and stories that can inspire children to persevere, especially those living in marginalized or underserved communities. However, the controversy surrounding the book’s funding and distribution has somewhat overshadowed the intended message, raising doubts about the execution and broader implications of the project.

The Budget Controversy

During a Senate hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros raised the issue of the ₱10 million budget allocated for the distribution of Isang Kaibigan. She questioned why such a substantial amount of public money was being used to fund the distribution of a book linked so closely to Sara Duterte’s office and public image. The senator’s concerns were grounded in the notion that the budget could have been more effectively utilized for other pressing educational needs, particularly in light of the ongoing challenges faced by the Philippine public education system, such as outdated learning materials, overcrowded classrooms, and inadequate teacher support.

In response to the scrutiny, Sara Duterte defended the allocation, stating that the funds were meant to cover the costs of distributing the book to students in remote areas who often lack access to educational resources. She further argued that the criticism was politically motivated and that the real issue at hand was not the budget itself, but the fact that her name was prominently associated with the project. According to Duterte, her political opponents were using the book as a pretext to undermine her credibility and leadership.

This exchange between Sara Duterte and Senator Hontiveros escalated into a heated debate, with Duterte accusing the senator of politicizing the issue. The controversy not only called into question the appropriateness of the budget but also raised broader concerns about the transparency and accountability of public projects associated with high-profile political figures like Sara Duterte.

Learning Material Flaws and Criticism of Sara Duterte’s Isang Kaibigan

The budget controversy surrounding Isang Kaibigan also raised concerns about the book’s quality. Critics highlighted flaws in the learning material, pointing to deeper systemic issues in Philippine education. A key criticism was the lack of proper evaluation by educational authorities, casting doubt on its suitability for widespread distribution. Additionally, the absence of translations into regional languages made the book less accessible to students in rural areas, where Filipino or English may not be their first language. The book’s simplistic content and lack of educational rigor further fueled concerns, with many seeing it as a reflection of broader issues in the education system, such as poor planning and resource allocation, contributing to low performance in international assessments like PISA.

Structural Issues and Trifocalization:

The controversy surrounding Sara Duterte’s Isang Kaibigan also touches upon deeper, long-standing structural problems in the Philippine education system. At the heart of the debate is the trifocalization of the education system, a policy established in 1991 that divided responsibility for education among three bodies: the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

While this approach was intended to create specialized focus areas within the education sector, it has led to fragmentation and a lack of cohesive national education planning.Critics argue that the fragmented nature of the trifocalized system allows for the kind of misallocation of resources seen in projects like Sara Duterte’s book distribution. Rather than addressing the root causes of the education system’s inefficiencies, projects like Isang Kaibigan—while noble in intention—often fail to address the most urgent needs of students, such as improved learning environments, better teacher training, and more relevant educational materials.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Sara Duterte’s Isang Kaibigan highlights both specific concerns about the use of public funds and broader systemic issues within the Philippine education system. While the ₱10 million budget for the project may seem small in comparison to larger government allocations, it has drawn attention to the need for greater transparency and accountability in the distribution of public resources.

Moreover, the project has sparked important conversations about the quality of educational materials, the appropriateness of political involvement in educational initiatives, and the deeper structural issues that continue to plague the country’s education system.Ultimately, Sara Duterte’s Isang Kaibigan may have had good intentions, but it has become a symbol of the challenges that the Philippine public education system faces in delivering high-quality, accessible, and inclusive education for all students.

A multi-award-winning blogger and advocate for OFWs and investment literacy; recipient of the Mass Media Advocacy Award, Philippine Expat Blog Award, and Most Outstanding Balikbayan Award. Her first book, The Global Filipino Bloggers OFW Edition, was launched at the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait. A certified Registered Financial Planner of the Philippines specializing in the Stock Market. A recognized author of the National Book Development Board of the Philippines. Co-founder of Teachers Specialist Organization in Kuwait (TSOK) and Filipino Bloggers in Kuwait (FBK). An international member of writing and poetry. Published more than 10 books.  Read more: About DiaryNiGracia