TWO days before resigning as Secretary of the Department of Education, Vice President Sara Duterte led the national kick-off of National Brigada Eskwela at Carmen National High School in Cebu.
Here, Vice President Duterte again granted an interview to the media to address some important issues.
Incoming DepEd Sec. Angara knows what to do to develop the education sector—VP Duterte
The vice president shared that they will meet briefly with incoming Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Thursday and will conduct the official turnover ceremony.
Prior to this, Angara had already held turnover meetings with other DepEd officials.
Vice President Sara Duterte mentioned that she did not give specific instructions to the new Secretary because, in her view. He has been in government for a long time.
“No. I know that Sen. Angara has been in government for the longest time— longer than me. So, he knows what we need. He knows what needs to be done to improve the quality of education in our country,” according to Vice President Sara Duterte.
Several DepEd officials will not be continuing with the agency—VP Sara
Related to the five-high ranking DepEd officials who submitted their resignations, VP Sara said she first told them to stay at DepEd so that the agency’s operations would not be affected.
“Please stay until the new secretary removes you because otherwise all, the Department of Education will be affected. It will be detrimental to the department. So, I told them to please stay until the new secretary decides to remove you. So that’s where you are leaving,” she added.
However, some DepEd officials have already decided to resign from their posts.
“Others said they would no longer continue in the Department of Education. Two will proceed to retirement, one moved to the Office of the Vice President and then one, we will discuss our working arrangements. And the other one— we haven’t talked to yet,” she stated.
VP Duterte says she will miss camaraderie within DepEd, serving the youth
When asked what she will miss about DepEd, VP Sara responded:
“I will miss the camaraderie of the Department of Education because our teaching and non-teaching personnel, wherever I go, even if it’s not inside a school, are always pleasant, and friendly to me. Wherever I go in the country, they will always say that we are from the Department of Education,” she stressed.
“And I always thank them for their service to the country.”
“Second, our intent is to serve our youth. I always tell them that I am grateful for their service to our country and for helping our youth,” she added.
VP Sara Duterte’s ‘designated survivor’ statement ‘not a joke’
Meanwhile, the vice president addressed the questions of some legislators regarding her statement that she would not attend the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. and appointed herself as the ‘designated survivor’.
“That wasn’t a joke. That wasn’t a bomb threat either. I think many missed the point. For me, if you didn’t understand the first time, I don’t think you deserved an explanation,” the vice president concluded.
