Presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio agreed to head the Department of Education (DepEd) to help produce “skilled learners” for the country.
“The presumptive President and I once again talked about how I could help the country. It was decided that I would work on producing skilled learners with the mindset to realize their full potential as individuals. Our country needs a future generation of patriotic Filipinos that advocate peace and discipline in their respective communities,” she said in a statement.
This is in relation to the announcement made by presumptive President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr on Wednesday that he is eyeing Duterte-Carpio as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) should he be proclaimed.
“I think I am authorized to announce the first nominee for the cabinet post that I will be giving to Commission on Appointment when the time comes should I be proclaimed and that is that our incoming vice president has agreed to take the brief of the Department of Education,” Marcos said in an online press statement.
He said the position is fit for her because Duterte-Carpio is a mother who wants her children to be well-trained and well-educated.
“Si Inday Sara, tinanong ko sa kanya kung kaya niya yung trabaho dahil mahirap ang trabaho ng Secretary of DepEd, pero nag-agree naman siya at palagay ko kasama na diyan dahil she is a mother and she wants to make sure that her chidlren are well-trained and well-educated and that’s the best motivation we can hope for,” Marcos said.
On her end, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said DepEd family is ready to work with Duterte-Carpio.
In a statement, Briones said DepEd will turnover the Basic Education Plan 2030, the first time that an outgoing administration will leave behind a medium-term plan.
“We are confident that DepEd will be in able hands and anticipate a continuity,” she said.
Meanwhile, netizens cheered Marcos’ announcement as the position will allow Duterte-Carpio to carry out her thrust of making the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory for all 18-year-old Filipinos if she wins as vice president.
In January this year, Duterte-Carpio said she will use the office of the Vice President to ask the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines to make military service mandatory in the country.
“Before the campaign, we talked about the Department of National Defense. But seeing the way things are at the moment, I expect that people who want to see the new administration to fail will fabricate intrigues about my loyalty and the DND position to break the UniTeam,” Duterte-Carpio said.
Netizen Jose Enrico V. Libunao posted that “at first glance, it appears the government just wants to fix the country’s education system. But you go deeper and you begin to realize that they’re addressing something more important: instilling respect, nationalism, and putting an end to the non-stop radicalization, recruitment, and brainwashing of the Filipino youth by the left. Sara Duterte is perfect for the job and President Rodrigo Duterte (PRRD) is nodding in agreement.”
On the other hand, Liloan Mayor Christina Garcia-Frasco, spokesperson of Duterte-Carpio clarified that at present, Duterte-Carpio has not expressed a preference for any cabinet position.
“My remarks regarding the Department of National Defense were made in response to a question from the media, and which I based on a previous statement by President-elect Bongbong Marcos earlier this year. We fully recognize that the choice of cabinet positions is within the discretion of the President,” she said in a statement.
