đź“· Senator Sherwin Gatchalian
MALACAĂ‘ANG has commenced the search for the next academic chief who would take over Vice President Sara Duterte following her irrevocable resignation as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).
Among the names being floated included Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, Senator Sonny Angara and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual.
Of the three names, Quimbo was the first to decline the position as she would be gunning for Marikina’s mayoralty position in time for the 2025 local election.
Angara meanwhile is being backed by fellow senators. According to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian in his capacity as chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Angara is a good choice to be the next DepEd.
To support the call for the appointment of a fellow senator, Gatchalian said he has worked closely with Angara in the Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM).
“Alam niya yung problema, alam niya yung solution. Even before pa, ang adbokasiya niya ay nasa education. Kaya kung makikita natin nung Chairman siya ng Finance Committee, ang laki ng binuhos niya sa education.”
Interestingly, Gatchalian made an earlier call to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to avoid appointing a politician for DepEd.
“He’s a public servant more than a politician dahil kapag nakikita natin siya hindi naman siya sawsaw dito, sawsaw doon, talagang substantive ang kanyang discussion,” Gatchalian explained.
“Nakita ko siya yung may mga katangian para maging isang effective, at importante hit the ground running na Department Secretary.”
Gatchalian also cited the need for the next Secretary to have experience in holding an organization considering that DepEd employs almost one million civil servants.
Asked if he would be interested in the post since he heads the Basic Education Committee, Gatchalian said he wants to finish his term until 2028.
Meanwhile, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said that the next DepEd secretary should be a “perfect replacement” to solve the problems of the education sector.
“We have to pick the perfect replacement and we have to spend more money and wisely dito sa DepEd,” Cayetano noted. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
