Vice President Sara Duterte criticized what she described as the government’s “lack of direction” as many Filipinos continue to struggle with poverty, unemployment, and rising economic uncertainty.

In a video interview released by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Thursday, May 7, Duterte said she sympathizes with ordinary Filipinos who are growing exhausted over the country’s economic situation and governance issues.

“Nakikisa ako sa kanila sa kapaguran dahil sa kawalan ng direksyon ng gobyerno natin at masakit din sa akin. (I share in their exhaustion because of the lack of direction in our government, and it pains me as well),” Duterte said in an interview in The Hague on May 6.

Duterte said many families remain uncertain about whether they will have enough money for food and other daily necessities.

Having previously served as mayor of Davao City, Duterte said she has met many Filipinos across the country who struggle to provide for their families’ basic needs despite not having stable jobs or government positions.

Duterte noted that the government’s top priority should be ensuring that struggling families can afford food, education, housing, electricity, and water — “Yung pinaka-basic na kailangan tugunan ng gobyerno (The most basic needs that the government must address),” she said.

The Vice President stressed that the government should focus first on helping poor households rather than engaging in political conflicts.

“Ako, as a Filipino and as a public official, dapat nauuna ngayon ang isipin ng pamahalaan ay paano ‘yung pambili ng pagkain araw-araw ng mga pamilya na naghihirap (“For me, as a Filipino and as a public official, what the government should prioritize right now is how struggling families can afford food every day),” she said.

According to Duterte, assistance should be directed toward families who rely on daily income to survive, particularly those who can only eat when they earn money for the day.

She also questioned reports of alleged bribery linked to impeachment efforts against her, saying any funds used for such activities would be better spent helping Filipinos facing economic hardship.

“Kasi hindi naman dapat kasi talaga solusyon sa problema ng poverty is ayuda. Hindi ‘yun ‘yung solusyon. (Because simply giving aid should not be the solution to poverty. That is not the solution),” she said.

She added that while there may still be hope for economic recovery, ordinary Filipinos may not immediately feel the improvements.

“Kung may pag-asa pa ba, yes, pero hindi kaagad... hindi kaagad ‘yun mararamdaman at makikita ng mga tao (If there is still hope, yes — but people will not immediately feel or see it),” Duterte said.

Duterte also claimed that corruption and weak governance have severely damaged investor confidence in the Philippines.

She said the country has long struggled to compete with neighboring Southeast Asian economies such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, which she described as more business-friendly and competitive.

According to Duterte, corruption exists “from the Office of the President down to the barangay level,” discouraging foreign investors from doing business in the country.

“So, hindi lang siya ngayon. I think nag-worsen lang siya ngayon na zero na talaga ang foreign investor interest sa Pilipinas dahil sa mga corruption. (So, it is not just happening now. I think it has only worsened to the point that foreign investor interest in the Philippines is practically zero because of corruption),” she said.

Duterte is currently in the Netherlands while her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, faces legal proceedings before the International Criminal Court over allegations related to his administration’s war on drugs.