At a House committee hearing on the proposed 2025 budget for the Department of Education (DepEd), Education Secretary Sonny Angara revealed there was no official payment record for the creation of Vice President Sara Duterte’s storybook, “Isang Kaibigan.”
The book was illustrated by DepEd employees Janina Simbillo and Joseph Caligner, who worked on a “job order” basis, but Angara confirmed no official compensation was recorded.
DepEd Undersecretary Gina Gonong stated the department had no involvement in the book’s development or printing, despite its launch during a DepEd event in November 2023.
The book became a point of contention between Duterte and Sen. Risa Hontiveros after a P10 million funding request for it was discussed during a Senate hearing.
The storybook, reportedly written by Duterte, tells the tale of an owl named Wago and his experience with fleeting friendships.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 3, 2024
