Angara appointment as DepEd chief ‘well-deserved’ – senators

FILE PHOTO: Sen. Sonny Angara answers questions from his colleagues as he defends Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2539 or the proposed New Government Procurement Act, on March 18, 2024. Angara’s appointment as Secretary of Education is “well-deserved,” as he is “very qualified” for the post, his colleagues at the Senate said Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Joseph B. Vidal / Senate Social Media Unit)

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sonny Angara’s appointment as Secretary of Education is “well-deserved,” as he is “very qualified” for the post, his colleagues at the Senate said Tuesday.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero expressed his compliments for Angara, as he wished him all the best in his new endeavor.

Angara is set to take the helm of the Department of Education (DepEd) on July 19.

“My heartfelt congratulations to Sen. Angara for a well-deserved appointment! His task ahead is gargantuan and I wish him well,” the Senate chief said in his statement.

READ: Angara named as new DepEd chief

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino said Angara is “very qualified” as DepEd chief but lamented the loss of a “legal mind” in the upper chamber.

“[I] Am sure he will do a good job as DepEd Secretary with his EdCom (Congressional Commission on Education) background and familiarity with current issues. The Senate will lose another legal mind as a consequence,” he said in another statement.

Like Tolentino, Sen. Joel Villanueva expressed his sadness over Angara’s departure from Senate to become the education leader, especially since he also regard him as his basketball partner.

“Senator Sonny’s appointment promises to uphold and build upon the transformative legacy of his father, the late Senator Edgardo Angara, who pioneered significant reforms in our education sector, notably through his efforts in EDCOM 1,” Villanueva said.

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., meanwhile, assured Angara of the Senate’s support in efforts to improve the country’s education.

“We will continue to work together for the betterment of the education sector in the country. Sec. Sonny, you have our full support,” Revilla said in a separate statement.

Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito remarked that Angara was an “excellent choice” for the Cabinet position.

“With his extensive educational background and commitment to public service, Sen. Angara is an excellent choice for this crucial role. I am confident that his leadership will bring significant positive changes to our education system,” Ejercito said.

READ: Sara Duterte resigns as DepEd secretary, says Palace

For Sen. Juan Zubiri, even if the Senate lost an invaluable member, the country gained an “excellent champion.”

“The Senate is losing an invaluable member, but the nation, and especially our children, is gaining an excellent champion. I wish Secretary Sonny all the best, and I look forward to how he will improve the education landscape of our country in the coming years,” he said.

Sen. Ma. Lourdes “Nancy” Binay said the upper chamber will miss Angara’s “breadth of […] knowledge, especially on matters of finance and law.”

However, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian believed Angara would bring more innovation to the DepEd.

“As a lifelong education champion, former Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, and a Commissioner of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), he will bring to the Department the expertise and leadership needed to usher in needed reforms and foster innovation in the basic education sector,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

Angara will replace Vice President Sara Duterte, who resigned as Education Secretary, on June 19.