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- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 | Facebook: SDN — SciTech and Digital News
QUEZON CITY, August 8, 2024 (SDN) — More like a lightning-fast confirmation, it seemed, for erstwhile Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday, August 7.
DepEd National Employees Union (NEU) National President Atty. Domingo “Doms” D. Alidon and some of NEU’s executive officers were having a dinner with a select group of journalists on Wednesday, August 7, at Aberdeen Hotel, Quezon City, Metro Manila, when he was informed that Angara was earlier confirmed that day by the congressional Commission on Appointments (CA).
News reports that followed the confirmation hearing at the Senate described the process as taking only less than seven minutes.
The new DepEd chief’s quick passage through a gauntlet of erstwhile colleagues warmed the hearts of Alidon and the NEU in general. They’ve been waiting for an education secretary who is armed with the sensibilities of an educator and willingness to consider the DepEd employees as partners in achieving quality education for Filipino learners.
And, by all indications, they found one in the former senator, then chair of the Senate Committee on Education. Angara replaced Vice President Inday Sarah Duterte at the helm of the DepEd effective July 19.
“We are thankful that he (Angara) was speedily confirmed. And we welcome that confirmation as we thank those who immediately confirmed him. Now, we have a confirmed DepEd secretary who will continue to perform his functions as new DepEd secretary,” Alidon, speaking in Filipino, says during the dinner.
Over at the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MBHTE), Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal, head of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), congratulated Angara for his feat of easily hurdling the CA.
“Congratulations to him and we are looking forward for more fruitful engagement with him and DepEd and MBHTE,” says Iqbal.
When the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced in early July the appointment to DepEd of Angara, the BARMM-MBHTE chief also sent his congratulations.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Senator Sonny Angara on his appointment as the new Secretary of the (DepEd). This is a momentous occasion, and we recognize Senator Angara’s dedication and commitment to advancing education in our nation,” the BARMM education chief says then, he acknowledged the former senator’s extensive experience and proven track record in championing education reforms that made him an excellence choice for this crucial role.
Iqbal also recalled Angara’s vital role in the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which then when on to be enacted as the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) that established the BARMM in January 2019.
Hundreds of members of the NEU, who are non-teaching personnel of DepEd, are holding their Luzon Cluster Assembly at the hotel along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City, from August 7 to 9.
Alidon: NEU looks forward to negotiating DepEd CNA with Angara
The assembly revolves around the theme “DepEd-NEU: Katuwang ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon sa Pagsusulong ng Educkasyong Pangkapayapaan at Pangkalahatan” (DepEd: NEU: Partner of the Department of Education in Promoting Peace Education and Inclusiveness).
Attendees in the Luzon Cluster Assembly are from Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, and 5.
It can be recalled that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. appointed Angara to the DepEd in early July after a week of searching for Duterte’s successor.
“We are looking forward to many good things to come from his appointment. We have had some discussions before he took his oath to give ourselves a good idea of what we think needs to be done,” says the President then.
Alidon cited the new DepEd chief’s extensive experience in the education sector, or education system, being a member of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), which is mandated to address problems affecting Philippine education. EDCOM II was created through Republic Act. No. 11899.
“And we expect that all that we agreed when we paid a courtesy call on him that he will implement them, with full force, especially that he is now a confirmed secretary of DepEd,” the DepEd-NEU president emphasizes.
He believes that Angara will no longer have any qualms, no reservations, but with full authority as secretary of DepEd. “So, we welcome and thank you for the news on his confirmation.”
On Tuesday, August 6, the Executive Officers of the DepEd-NEU led by Alidon paid a courtesy call on the new DepEd chief.
With Alidon were DepEd-NEU’s Executive Officers and National Board of Trustees. DepEd Officials with Angara in the meeting included Undersecretary Annalyn M. Sevilla, Undersecretary Wilfredo E. Cabral, and Undersecretary Reysee Escobedo and other officials of DepEd and DepEd-NEU.
They discussed various issues and concerns of the department’s union and coming up with resolutions that would benefit the employees.
Alidon expressed satisfaction for the meeting because they’ve been waiting for this opportunity to relay their concerns, saying they were not able to have even a single meeting with Angara’s predecessor.
The DepEd-NEU national president added they also want to negotiate with the new DepEd chief their Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA).
Alidon said the NEU has presently around 66,000 members out of the over 80,000 non-teaching DepEd employees from the country’s 17 regions and over 200 school divisions. (/)