VP-elect Sara Duterte’s experience as mayor beneficial to DepEd, says exec

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday said vice president elect Sara Duterte-Carpio’s “vast experience” as a local chief executive will be beneficial to her role as the agency’s secretary.

DepEd Undersecretary and Chief-of-staff Nepomuceno Malaluan said this is because Duterte-Carpio knows the problem at the field level as the mayor of Davao City.

“The Secretary will bring with her also the experience as a local chief executive knowing the problems at the field level, at the local level, which is very important because that has been our experience, you know, we would not have survived the pandemic without the strong support of the local government unit and the strong collaboration in the field, directly with the school,” DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said over ANC when asked his thoughts as to the direction of the education sector under Duterte-Carpio.

“This is something that we anticipate and we know that the incoming vice president has vast experience as a former chief executive,” Malaluan added.

Malaluan also believes that Duterte-Carpio’s role will be crucial in the prioritization of the education sector as the country’s second-in-command.

“We have the second-highest official of the land leading the education sector, and in terms of being able to access prioritization in budgeting, for example, in Congress, then such leadership will be crucial,” he continued.

Duterte-Carpio, 43, is Davao City’s first female mayor and the youngest to ever be elected in the city’s history.

She was elected as Davao City mayor in 2010 until 2013. Duterte-Carpio ran for reelection in the 2016 and 2019 polls. She won both elections.

The daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, who is the runaway winner in the vice presidential polls, was also tasked by president-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to become the next Education Secretary.

READ: VP frontrunner Sara Duterte to serve as DepEd secretary, says Bongbong Marcos

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