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MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers praised Education Secretary Sonny Angara’s “exemplary conduct” during the deliberation on the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposed budget for 2025, as the hearing went on smoothly and, in some instances, was fun.
In a statement on Tuesday, House Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre compared Angara’s behavior to former DepEd chief and Vice President Sara Duterte, who recently drew flak for refusing to directly answer lawmakers’ queries on her office’s proposed budget.
“Secretary Angara, in just a short time, has already shown his capability to lead with respect and integrity. This is a stark contrast to what we saw from Vice President Sara Duterte, who, during her own budget hearing, displayed a sense of entitlement and resorted to bullying tactics that have no place in a democratic institution,” Acidre said.
“Angara’s willingness to engage constructively, even with the tough questions, is a testament to his dedication and a significant departure from the combative stance of his predecessor,” he added.
Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin also noticed that Angara’s demeanor was the “complete opposite” of Duterte’s.
“Secretary Angara’s ability to respond clearly and respectfully to every inquiry sets a new standard for leadership at DepEd. His demeanor was the complete opposite of the aggressive and disrespectful attitude shown by his predecessor,” she said.
“It’s commendable how he’s tackling the problems he inherited without complaint, focusing instead on solutions and moving the department forward,” she added.
During the deliberation on the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) 2025 budget last Aug. 27, Duterte clashed with lawmakers.
She replied to almost all questions by saying that she forgoes the opportunity to defend the budget in a question-and-answer format, or by insisting that the OVP has already coordinated with the Commission on Audit (COA) regarding the notice of disallowance (ND) it issued on the OVP’s confidential funds (CF) for 2022.
Lawmakers said COA issued the ND on P73 million of the OVP’s P125-million CF for 2022.
Duterte’s answers led to ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro likening the Vice President to a “squid” that releases ink when under pressure as Duterte deflected questions related to her office’s CFs.
READ: Squid tactics? Castro scores VP Sara for deflecting secret fund issue
Fun hearing
There were several light moments too during the DepEd budget deliberation, like when presiding officer and Davao de Oro 1st District Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora manifested that there would be no other lawmaker to ask questions — only after 12 hours.
Angara jokingly took notice of the irony of the DepEd budget hearing reaching 12 hours when initially, Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez wanted to terminate discussions out of courtesy to a former member of Congress.
“For the past five years, this has been the longest DepEd budget hearing we actually reached; I think 11 hours,” Zamora said.
“What happened to the motion on the tradition Madam Chair?” Angara asked, eliciting laughter from lawmakers like Castro and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, and even other DepEd officials.
“What happened to the tradition? The tradition was overruled … and this has been the longest, and well I can see that members of the committee are very excited to engage with the Secretary, not just because they want to ask questions but [because] most of us would like to manifest support. I see that as a good sign, that we see members of Congress [are] very excited to engage with DepEd,” Zamora said.
Zamora also thanked Angara for being patient despite the numerous questions of lawmakers, and for attending the hearing despite the bad weather brought by Tropical Storm Enteng.
“Thank you very much for answering graciously … and patiently, all the questions. In the coming days, just like the movie Stand and Deliver, I will stand for you, but hopefully not for 11 hours,” she said.
“But I hope DepEd will deliver all the promises and commitments that you have told us. And together, we will stand and deliver, and so allow me to end, because during the opening I said here comes the sun — allow me to end with a song … with this line, I can see clearly now, the rain is gone, it’s gonna be a bright, bright, sun, sunny day for the basic education,” she added.
A huge part of the House hearing on the proposed DepEd budget centered on issues left behind by Duterte, leading lawmakers to seek a probe into these alleged irregularities.
Castro, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon, and Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro called for investigations due to the revelations on procurement problems and issues with the school-based feeding program, where spoiled milk and bread were delivered.
READ: Solons want probe into different issues hounding DepEd
Quimbo called out DepEd for claiming that 44,638 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) packages were delivered as of now.
When DepEd ICT Director Ferdinand Pitagan said that the total figure of 44,638 ICT packages was reached by combining 2023 and 2024 figures, Quimbo stressed that the Education official was referring to procured ICT packages — and not equipment delivered to schools nationwide.
READ: Solons blast low budget use, non-delivery of laptops of DepEd under Sara