By Stephanie Sevillano
MANILA – Preparations for the opening of School Year 2025-2026 remain in “full blast” despite the courtesy resignation of Secretary Sonny Angara in compliance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order to members of his Cabinet, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Friday.
“Tuluy-tuloy lang po ang pagtatrabaho ng ating kalihim, full-blast ang ating preparations para sa nalalapit na pagbubukas ng bagong school year natin (Our secretary’s work continues, preparations for the upcoming school year are in full blast),” DepEd Media Relations chief Dennis Legaspi said in a Viber message to reporters.
Under Angara’s watch, the DepEd has returned to the original June to March school calendar, with the opening of classes set for June 16.
According to Legaspi, Angara will join Marcos in Ilocos Norte on Saturday for the opening of the 2025 Palarong Pambansa.
“Bukas, siya ay tutungo sa Laoag, Ilocos Norte upang samahan ang Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr. sa pagbubukas ng ating Palarong Pambansa (Tomorrow, Secretary Angara will go in Laoag, Ilocos Norte to join President Bongbong Marcos Jr. for the opening of Palarong Pambansa),” he said.
Legaspi likewise assured that all DepEd programs would continue while awaiting the President’s decision on Angara’s resignation.
Performance lauded
Meanwhile, the DepEd National Employees Union (NEU) and the Association of Department of Education Directors lauded the 10-month performance of Angara, citing improvements that benefit public school teachers.
In a statement, DepEd NEU president Domingo Alidon commended Angara’s “positive labor-management” and “exemplary” performance in addressing the concerns of rank-and-file employees.
“His leadership and commitment to the Department of Education have yielded significant benefits, including the historic realization of 10,000 CNA incentives for employees. This landmark achievement is a testament to his dedication to improving the lives of educators and personnel,” Alidon said.
Alidon then called for the sustainability of such momentum to ensure the welfare of both teaching and non-teaching personnel in DepEd.
“Given the circumstances, it is our strong hope that he can continue to build upon the foundations he has laid and further prioritize the welfare of DepEd’s rank-and-file employees,” he said.
“It is our earnest desire that the momentum generated by Secretary Angara’s leadership will be sustained and further enhanced in the years to come.”
The Association of Department of Education Directors expressed similar hopes, noting that the administration’s goal to improve the quality of education is feasible under a “stable” and “sound” leadership.
“We are proud to say that DepEd has a Secretary who puts head, heart, and hard work into every initiative. We have already found our champion in Secretary Sonny. Our hope is that the President believes this, too,” the group said in a separate statement. (PNA)
