VP Sara says Briones to stay in DepEd as consultant

VP Sara says Briones to stay in DepEd as consultant

On Monday, Vice President Sara Duterte, the new education secretary, disclosed that Sec. Leonor Briones, outgoing DepEd secretary, had consented to continue working for the Department of Education (DepEd) as a consultant.

She announced at the DepEd Central Office, where Briones officially handed the agency to Duterte.

VP-Sec. Duterte admitted to getting teary-eyed during the ceremony, saying she was sad that Briones' term of office as DepEd secretary had ended.

However, she was happy that the former Education Secretary had agreed to serve as her consultant.

“I feel sad, kahit hindi kami magkatrabaho, parang namimiss ko si Secretary Briones sa darating ko na trabaho and I’m truly happy that she committed to stay on as a consultant for the Office of the Secretary of the DepEd,” said VP- Sec. Duterte in her speech.

Duterte then praised and thanked the department's officials who, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, fulfilled their mandate to the Filipino children.

VP- Sec. Duterte praised Briones' dedication to government service and the entire DepEd workforce's innovations, particularly in mitigating the effects of the pandemic in pursuit of the organization's call for education to continue.

"Secretary Liling is a force. And I am humbled and honored to follow in the footsteps of a much-admired academic, public servant, social activist, and change-maker," said VP- Sec. Duterte.

"I would also like to acknowledge the equally devoted men and women, our undersecretaries and assistant secretaries, who supported Ma'am Liling in the last six years. Daghang salamat kaninyo,” said VP-Sec. Duterte.

"Secretary Liling and the whole Department of Education organization never cowered in the face of disapproval, public frustration, and pressure," she continued.

"When some sectors called for an academic freeze, the response was academic ease. And it was a brilliant, appropriate, and timely response, made with a will, resolve, and foresight that our children's learning is shielded from the adverse impact of the pandemic," she added.

VP-Sec. Duterte said she will assume as the department's secretary "with the reminder that we shall continue to find ways to improve basic education in terms of access, equity, quality, resiliency, and governance, to produce learners who can achieve their full potential as individuals who are responsible, skilled, knowledgeable, productive, and determined to achieve their dreams for themselves and our country."