MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday appointed Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara as the new Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).
Angara will take over the position of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, who will step down as the Education secretary effective on July 19.
“Senator Angara has an extensive legislative history, having championed significant educational reforms since joining the Senate of the Philippines in 2013,” Marcos said in a statement.
Among his prior legislative work related to education includes the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act and the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (K-12), Marcos added.
Angara has a Master of Laws from Harvard University, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics.
Angara had been endorsed by key educational organizations such as the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) and the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU).
Angara, for his part, said he is honored to be chosen as the new DepEd secretary and he is ready to helm the Education department, the largest bureaucracy in the government.
“I am deeply honored and grateful with his appointment. This significant responsibility is one I accept with humility and a profound sense of duty,” Angara said.
He added that he looks forward to working with all sectors, including Duterte-Carpio, to “build on her accomplishments” and to ensure access to quality education.
“Education is the cornerstone of our nation’s future, and it is through collective effort that we can address the challenges and seize the opportunities ahead,” Angara said.
“I am eager to collaborate with President Marcos and the entire administration in serving our students, supporting our teachers, and enhancing the overall quality of education in our country,” he added./PN
