Angara appointed as DepEd chief

Sen. Sonny Angara will be the new education secretary, President Marcos announced yesterday, weeks before the opening of school year 2024-2025.

- HELEN FLORES

Angara has accepted the position to be vacated by Vice President Sara Duterte by July 19, according to Marcos.

“Sonny has agreed to take on the brief of the Department of Education (DepEd),” Marcos said during the 17th Cabinet meeting at Malacañang.

Angara was not present at the Cabinet meeting.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has not yet provided details on Angara’s oath-taking.

In his announcement, Marcos emphasized the important role of the DepEd and the need for a leader capable of overseeing its extensive operations.

“The DepEd is arguably the most important department, given the crucial role of education,” the President said.

He added that choosing the next education secretary was “challenging.”

“We have many excellent candidates,” the Chief Executive said.

Marcos has approved the July 29 opening of classes for public elementary and high school this coming school year.

Duterte resigned on June 19 as education secretary and co-vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Education champion

Angara has championed significant educational reforms since joining the Senate in 2013.

“With 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, his background positions him well to lead DepEd,” the PCO said in a statement yesterday.

Angara was one of the authors of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (K-12) and Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act.