Roco assures: No more textbook scams at DECS

No more textbook scams at the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS).

New Education Secretary Raul Roco told DECS officials and employees yesterday he was not bothered by surveys showing the department as one of the most corrupt government agencies.

"Perception does not really reflect reality," he said. "I intend to make transparency and truthfulness the DECS’s guiding principles."

During the administration of former Education Secretary Andrew Gonzalez, the department was rocked by a textbook scam that implicated Celia Ejercito de Castro, a cousin of ousted President Joseph Estrada; and former Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno.

Roco said that under his watch, documents connected with transactions in the education department will be posted for "public viewing" in his office.

"I don’t like to be told lies," he said. "I want the truth. I believe in the ‘sunshine principle’ that the part of your body not exposed to sunshine gains more microbes."

Roco warned unscrupulous education officials that he will not tolerate corruption and other illegal activities during his administration.

"I won’t ask you to do things that I, myself, won’t do," he said. "If you work 12 hours a day, I’ll work 13 hours a day. All I ask you is to be dedicated to your profession."

Roco said he wanted the DECS to be known as a "department for teachers and students" because they are the "two constituents" of the agency.

"Teaching is a noble profession because they continually pour out of themselves creativity and they generally do not get paid well," he said. "The value of teaching is the sharing of knowledge."

Roco named yesterday STAR columnist Dr. Isagani Cruz as Education Undersecretary for Programs and Projects.

Cruz, 56, who has been writing for The STAR for the past 14 years, will come out with his last column tomorrow.

"I will leave The STAR with regret," Cruz said "I really love writing."

Before his appointment to the DECS, Cruz was a professor and a fellow at De La Salle University, where he headed the Department of Literature and Philippine Languages.

He was also vice president and publisher of De La Salle University Press. – Sheila Crisostomo