REFLECTION

[TOPIC REQUEST] Sara Duterte's Vice Presidential Accomplishments

August 22, 20252 min read

The other day, a Morning Coffee Thoughts reader reached out with a request: could I write about the accomplishments of Vice President Sara Duterte? It was a fair question, and I agreed.

So I began the work. I checked the official website of the Office of the Vice President, going through press releases and program announcements. I reviewed Commission on Audit reports, line by line, to see how the office had moved its resources. I scanned congressional records for mentions of the OVP in both the Senate and the House.

Education was another focus, since she also held the DepEd portfolio. I went through reports and statements tied to schools, reforms, and initiatives. Then came the hours spent on news coverage — Rappler, Inquirer, Philippine Star, and others — plus a few international outlets, just in case. It was a long, deliberate search across every corner where accomplishments are usually recorded.

The results are presented below.

Major Accomplishments as Vice President

Outstanding Leadership in Education Reform

Groundbreaking Public Service Innovations

Exemplary Transparency and Accountability

Remarkable Contributions to National Unity

Transformative Policy Initiatives

Exceptional Crisis Management

Distinguished International Relations

Pioneering Anti-Corruption Efforts

Conclusion: Reflection on Leadership and Service

The headings above mark the fields where leadership is usually measured: education, governance, accountability, unity, crisis response, diplomacy, and integrity in office. These are the standards by which public officials are remembered, and the grounds on which their legacies are built.

In putting this review together, I spent long hours with reports, announcements, audits, and coverage. Each was approached carefully, with the aim of understanding what this vice presidency has meant in practice. It was patient work, line by line, page by page, across different accounts and records.

What remains here is the result of that effort. The sections stand as they are, open to the judgment of readers who will take them in and draw their own conclusions.

History has a way of preserving both presence and absence. Sometimes it speaks through what is written, and sometimes through what is left unsaid.

SOURCES

"Biography - Office of the Vice President", https://www.ovp.gov.ph/biography
"Sara Duterte - Wikipedia", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Duterte
"VP Sara highlights PNU's contribution to basic education", https://www.ovp.gov.ph/post/vp-sara-highlights-pnus-contribution-basic-education
"2M Pinoys served: Sara Duterte's office touts achievements as budget cut looms", https://politiko.com.ph/2024/09/15/2m-pinoys-served-sara-dutertes-office-touts-achievements-as-budget-cut-looms/daily-feed/
"WATCH: VP Sara highlights OVP achievements in 3 years in office", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTv6xCeYxJI
"OVP lists Sara Duterte's achievements in first 100 days", https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/847370/ovp-lists-sara-duterte-s-achievements-in-first-100-days/story/
"A Sentiment Analysis on the Appointment of Sara Z. Duterte as the...", https://philarchive.org/archive/RAYASA
"Palace dismisses Sara Duterte claim vs Marcos: VP wants to be president", https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2098673/palace-dismisses-sara-duterte-claim-vs-marcos-vp-wants-to-be-president
"OVP lists Sara Duterte's achievement in first 100 days", https://dzrh.com.ph/post/ovp-lists-sara-duterte's-achievement-in-first-100-days
"Pulse Asia Research's March 2025 Ulat ng Bayan Survey", https://pulseasia.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/UB2025-1-MR-on-Performance-and-Trust-Ratings-of-Top-Officials-Final.pdf
"the singing detainee and the librarian with one book", https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/102190/1/0529.1.00.pdf
"Duterte: A failure as DepEd chief? Marcos even 'asked me to stay'", https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2098652/sara-duterte-a-failure-as-deped-chief-marcos-even-asked-me-to-stay
"Sara on claims she 'failed' as DepEd chief: Why did Marcos want me to stay", https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/956541/sara-on-claims-she-failed-as-deped-chief-why-did-marcos-want-me-to-stay/story/
"Word war spotlights Sara Duterte's 'failures' as DepEd chief", https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/08/20/2466861/sara-dutertes-education-rant-triggers-reminders-her-deped-failures
"Sara Duterte rejects Palace claim her DepEd stint a 'failure'", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_QGLn1gGc4
"VP Sara Duterte, sinabing hindi 'failure' ang pamumuno", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIwV7URzEZ0
"Teachers to Sara Duterte: Don't pretend you're not part of education woes", https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2097649/teachers-group-to-sara-duterte-dont-pretend-youre-not-part-of-educ-woes
"Sara Duterte's corruption case, a crushing blow to education", https://www.ibon.org/sara-dutertes-corruption-case-a-crushing-blow-to-education/
"Ex-lawmaker to Sara: What results in DepEd are you talking about?", https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2098778/ex-lawmaker-asks-duterte-what-results-in-deped-are-you-talking-aboutt
"If VP Sara addressed secret fund use earlier, issue is done", https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2080793/if-vp-sara-addressed-secret-fund-use-issue-earlier-is-done-chua
"Sara Duterte's DepEd debacle - Inquirer Opinion", https://opinion.inquirer.net/185519/saras-deped-debacle
"VP Sara should explain dubious confidential funds recipients", https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1246641
"Duterte's Incompetent Leadership and Misaligned Priorities Worsen the Education Crisis", https://phkule.org/article/1111/dutertes-incompetent-leadership-and-misaligned-priorities-worsen-the-education-crisis
"New names surface in VP Sara's confidential funds scandal", https://tribune.net.ph/2025/03/16/new-names-surface-anew-in-vp-saras-confidential-fund-scandal
"Confidential Funds Controversy Erupts in Philippines", https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/confidential-funds-controversy-erupts-in-philippines/
"Impeachment of Sara Duterte - Wikipedia", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_of_Sara_Duterte
"Timeline sa impeachment ni VP Sara Duterte - YouTube", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8tOofOvi8I
"Impeachment probe of Philippine VP Sara Duterte voided by Supreme Court", https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/25/impeachment-probe-of-philippine-vp-sara-duterte-voided-by-supreme-court
"Chiz moves presentation of Articles of Impeachment to June 11", https://web.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2025/0529_escudero1.asp
"VP Duterte camp files comment on House impeachment appeal", https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1256931
"Philippine vice president says she would have Marcos assassinated", https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/23/asia/philippines-duterte-marcos-intl-hnk
"Sara Duterte: Philippines' political feud takes a dramatic turn", https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gzn4j0g20o
"Sara Duterte asks SC to reject House motion on impeachment ruling", https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2097807/sara-duterte-asks-sc-to-reject-house-motion-on-impeachment-ruling
"Philippines VP Sara Duterte threatens Marcos assassination if she is killed", https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/23/philippines-vp-sara-duterte-threatens-marcos-assassination-if-she-is-killed
"Philippines summons VP Duterte over threat to have Marcos killed", https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-summons-vp-duterte-over-threat-have-marcos-killed-2024-11-26/
"Philippines Feud: VP Duterte Threatens to Assassinate Prez Marcos", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tM5FmHhHXQ
"The Final Frontier", https://www.nomos-elibrary.de/10.5771/9781498555265.pdf
"Philippine Vice President Duterte impeached over alleged Marcos assassination threat", https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/05/asia/philippines-vp-duterte-impeachment-intl-hnk
"'I did not make an assassination threat to the President' – Duterte", https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2032539/i-did-not-make-an-assassination-threat-to-the-president-vp-sara-duterte
"Philippine investigators file criminal complaints against vice president", https://apnews.com/article/philippines-vice-president-sara-duterte-036ba0b2f5bb06566c95196cb8b27d36
"Statement of VP Sara on Walden Bello's Accusations", https://www.ovp.gov.ph/post/statement-vp-sara-walden-bellos-accusations
"VP Sara: Comparing 2025 OVP budget with Robredo's 'absurd'", https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/918491/vp-sara-comparing-ovp-budget-robredo-time-absurd/story/
"Sara Duterte blames politics for likely end to OVP 'legacy projects'", https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1977087/sara-duterte-blames-politics-for-likely-end-of-some-ovp-projects
"VP Sara vows to sustain momentum in pursuing MATATAG reforms", https://www.deped.gov.ph/2024/01/26/vp-sara-vows-to-sustain-momentum-in-pursuing-matatag-reforms-in-ber-2024/
"Sara Duterte's secret fund spending 'a violation twice over'", https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/592913/sara-dutertes-secret-fund-spending-a-violation-twice-over
"VP Duterte unveils 7-point priority intervention of DepEd", https://depedcalabarzon.ph/?p=4503
"VP Sara, DepEd affirm poverty reduction efforts through accessible quality education", https://www.deped.gov.ph/2024/01/29/vp-sara-deped-affirm-poverty-reduction-efforts-through-accessible-quality-education-transition-of-the-14-schools/
"Duterte's resignation and the failed education system", https://cmfr-phil.org/editorial/dutertes-resignation-and-the-failed-education-system/
"143% efficiency: VP Sara spends confidential funds faster than budget", https://politiko.com.ph/2024/09/02/143-efficiency-vp-sara-spends-confidential-funds-faster-than-budget-to-improve-education/daily-feed/
"Sara trumpets OVP accomplishments", https://tribune.net.ph/2023/12/11/sara-trumpets-ovp-accomplishments
"From feeding programs to tree planting, Sara says confidential funds used 'across the board'", https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/09/04/2293781/feeding-programs-tree-planting-sara-says-confidential-funds-used-across-board
"VP Sara: OVP programs will be across the country", https://www.ovp.gov.ph/post/vp-sara-ovp-programs-will-be-across-country
"VP Sara vows education reforms vs. systemic challenges", https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193959
"VP Sara to pursue education reforms as SEAMEO Council President", https://www.deped.gov.ph/2023/02/10/vp-sara-to-pursue-education-reforms-as-seameo-council-president/
"[The Slingshot] Blunders and mess Sara left behind at DepEd", https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/news/in-the-news/the-slingshot-blunders-and-mess-sara-left-behind-at-deped