VP Sara: Resignation as DepEd chief not due to weakness

Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said her resignation as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) was not due to weakness, but out of concern for teachers and students.

Giving a statement in front of the media, Duterte confirmed that she tendered her resignation as DepEd chief effective July 19, 2024.

She said she gave a 30-day notice “to ensure the proper and orderly transition for the benefit of the next Secretary.”

“Mga kababayan, ang aking pagbibitiw ay hindi lulan ng kahinaan kundi dala ng tunay na malasakit para sa ating mga guro at kabataang Pilipino,” she said.

(My countrymen, my resignation was not due to weakness but due to my true concern for our teachers and Filipino youth.)

“Bagama’t hindi ako magpapatuloy na mamamahala sa Kagawaran, patuloy pa rin nating itataguyod ang kalidad ng edukasyon na nararapat para sa Pilipino,” she added.

(Although I will not continue heading the Department, I will continue to promote the quality of education that Filipinos deserve.)

Duterte also vowed to continue being a “mother” for all teachers and students.

“Hindi man ako ang tumatayong kalihim ng edukasyon, mananatili akong isang ina---isang ina na nagmamatyag at titindig para sa kapakanan ng bawat guro at bawat mag-aaral sa Pilipinas para sa isang matatag na Pilipinas,” she said.

(Even though I’m no longer the acting secretary of education, I will remain a mother---a mother who will watch and stand up for the welfare of every teacher and every student in the Philippines for a strong Philippines.)

Aside from quitting her post as DepEd chief, Duterte also resigned as vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil said President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. accepted Duterte's resignation.

Following this, Duterte enumerated several achievements of DepEd during her stint as Secretary, including the launching of the MATATAG agenda.

She also thanked DepEd’s partner agencies, the national government, the local government units, private sector partners, and her entire DepEd family.

Duterte, also expressed gratitude particularly to teachers for their “passion and for [their] unrelenting commitment to the youth.”

“Salamat sa suporta, salamat sa pagiging matatag. The nation will forever be in your debts. Sa dalawang taon nating pagsasama, ang kwentong nabuo natin, ay kwento ng kapit-bisig na pagtaguyod sa adhikaing maitatag ang isang bansang makabata at batang makabansa,” she said.

(Thank you for the support and for being strong. The nation will forever be in your debts. In the two years we have been together, the story we have created is a story of our unity to create a country for the youth and a nationalistic youth.)

Duterte refused to answer follow-up questions from the media after giving her statement.

GMA News Online messaged DepEd Undersecretary Michael Poa regarding who Duterte recommended to be the next DepEd Secretary, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News