Education Secretary Leonor Briones has “welcomed” the decision of likely next Philippine president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to appoint his running-mate, vice-presidential race frontrunner Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, as the next chief of the Department of Education (DepEd).
In a statement, Briones said her team was ready to work with Duterte-Carpio’s team “for the orderly transition of DepEd leadership.”
“We will turn over the Basic Education Plan 2030, the first time that an outgoing administration will leave behind a medium-term plan. We are confident that DepEd will be in able hands and anticipate a continuity,” Briones said.
Duterte-Carpio had been rumored to join her running-mate’s Cabinet as defense chief, but Marcos in a short media briefing on Wednesday said the president’s daughter had agreed to take on the job.
“Tinanong ko sa kanya kung kaya niya ‘yung trabaho dahil mahirap ang trabaho ng Secretary of Education, pero nag-agree naman siya, at palagay ko kasama na diyan dahil she is a mother,” Marcos said.
Duterte-Carpio has floated a requirement that would make military service mandatory for all Filipinos who reach the age of 18.
Marcos and Duterte-Carpio hold convincing leads over the second placers in each of their races. John Ezekiel J. Hirro