Although her Calaguas Island trip turned controversial, Vice President Sara Duterte said she was still “happy” with it and highlighted that the island needs more visitors since they rely heavily on tourism.
Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media during a press conference held in her Mandaluyong City office on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (Raymund Antonio/MANILA BULLETIN)
“I am happy na dahil sa aking pagbisita ko duon, ay na-highlight ang Calaguas Islands (I am happy that, because of my visit there, Calaguas Islands was highlighted),” she told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
“They need more visitors there kasi karamihan sa kanila they depend on tourism na nangyayari lang pag summer kasi medyo malayo ang boat ride saka maalon (They need more visitors because most of them rely on tourism that only occurs during summertime as it takes a long boat ride to arrive there and it’s full of waves),” she added.
The official noted that the island also needs access to medical care, internet, and potable water, as well as electricity because they only use generators.
The Vice President’s visit to Calaguas Islands turned controversial after photos of her on Monday, Sept. 23, went viral on social media.
It was the same day of the House plenary hearing on the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed P2.037-billion budget for 2025, which Duterte skipped.
While the OVP denied Duterte was in the island during the hearing, social media posts and media outlets pointed out the time stamp on the photos showing that she was there last Monday.
A spot report by the Philippine National Police (PNP) also placed the official in the island on Monday.
“Accurate naman. Tama iyon lahat, ang report nila. 6:32 [a.m.] na umalis ako dun sa Calaguas ng Monday. Ang budget hearing started 10 a.m. (It’s accurate. The report is correct that I left Calaguas on Monday. The budget hearing started 10 a.m.), she said.
“So, tama din ako, walang budget hearing na nangyayari at 6:32 a.m. (So I am still correct, there is no budget hearing at 6:32 a.m.), she added.
“Walang congressman na magigising ng 6:32 a.m. para mag-trabaho. Ang gumagawa lang ng ganyan iyong mga executives na hindi natutulog para magtatrabaho (No congressman wakes up at 6:32 a.m. to work. Only executives do that because they don’t sleep anymore to work),” Duterte claimed.
She backed the OVP’s earlier statement that she was already on the road by the time the plenary hearing commenced at 10 a.m.
The Vice President was a no-show during the House plenary deliberations, deferring entirely to the House of Representatives her office’s budget for 2025.
Duterte, however, said that she plans to attend the budget hearing in the Senate.