Angara open to being DepEd secretary

MANILA, Philippines —  If offered by President Marcos the job of education secretary, Sen. Sonny Angara said he is likely to take it.

“Yes, I’m open to it in case I’ll be entrusted with it,” Angara said yesterday when asked to comment on reports that he was being considered as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) to replace Vice President Sara Duterte.

He said “it might be impossible” after all to turn down an offer from the President.

Angara was in Baler, Aurora yesterday, along with former Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, for the 122nd anniversary celebration of the Filipino-Spanish Friendship Day.

“Let’s see if the President needs us, and you know, we’d like to help him also. We’re helping him in the Senate. So, if we can help him in other ways, why not?” Angara added.

Aside from Angara, the other names being considered for the top DepEd post are Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual and Commission on Higher Education chairman Prospero de Vera.

Angara, however, clarified that there was no formal offer yet from the Palace but he revealed most of his Senate colleagues were rooting for him. Angara is on the second and last term as senator. His term ends in 2025.

“I have not yet received any offer to be the secretary of education. Maybe President Bongbong needs more time – as he had said – to choose the one he wants for the position,” he said.

Asked what reforms he would like to implement for DepEd if he gets appointed secretary, Angara said “it is still premature and improper” for him to comment about reforming the department.

But he noted the next DepEd chief should focus on improving the quality of education as well as on addressing “resource gaps” such as the shortage of classrooms and textbooks.

Senate President Francis Escudero, Zubiri, Gatchalina, Sen. Joel Villanueva and Sen. Nancy Binay earlier vouched for Angara’s competence to lead the DepEd.

Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. also made his pitch for Angara yesterday.

“He has a grasp and good understanding of the education system – what needs to be done, and how to do it – that’s what the DepEd needs,” Revilla said

“I believe in the capabilities of Sen. Sonny. We’ve long been working together in the Senate on matters involving education. I believe he can lead reforms in our education sector,” Revilla added.

He said Angara’s having led the Senate committee on youth had deepened his understanding of issues relevant to the sector.

Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) is reminding President Marcos that his education agenda matters more than the person he will appoint.

“No matter who the President appoints as DepEd secretary, if his main goal is not to raise the country’s status in international tests so that the Filipino worker becomes more marketable to foreign businesses, we will not have a reliable change in education,” ACT chairman Vladimer Quetua said. –  Neil Jayson Servallos, Jose Rodel Clapano