Teachers hit Noynoy for snubbing choice for DepEd chief

MANILA, Philippines - Public school teachers expressed disappointment over incoming president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s “snub in their ranks” to find the best person to fill the Department of Education (DepEd) top post when he takes over the government on June 30.

Benjo Basas, national chairperson of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), said while they have been hearing a few personalities suggested to head the DepEd, Aquino’s people have not asked teachers on who they think can best lead the department, address their concerns and welfare, and deal with education resource shortage of over P100 billion.

Basas said there are reports that Bro. Armin Luistro of De La Salle University and former education secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad are being eyed to be DepEd secretary.

At the sidelines of the Philippine Education Congress at the Manila Hotel last Friday, Basas expressed the TDC’s openness to a comeback of Abad whose stint in the DepEd during the term of outgoing President Arroyo was shortlived.

Abad resigned and joined the so-called “Hyatt 10.”

Basas, however, said teachers are seeking the reappointment of former education secretary Jesli Lapus despite his being an appointee of Arroyo.

“We in TDC have three criteria for the best person to lead DepEd. The DepEd secretary should be a leader, a manager, and also a teacher. And we believe those three criteria were in Jesli Lapus when he served as DepEd secretary for more than three years until he was replaced last March,” Basas said.

He said Lapus showed qualities of good leadership when he addressed resource shortages at the DepEd.

As a former president of Land Bank of the Philippines, Basas said Lapus’ management skills were unquestionable.

He was also a teacher, having taught at the Asian Institute of Management.

He said they found Lapus’ administration as the most open to dialogue and responsive to teachers’ concerns and welfare.

“It was during (Secretary) Jesli’s time when we enjoyed so many dialogues with the DepEd secretary and undersecretaries on many issues like our complaints on unissued benefits with the GSIS and our fight to get Congress support for the wage hike,” Basas said.

“Teachers will be more inspired to carry all the burdens brought by the failure of the government to provide adequate funds for classrooms, textbooks, and school desks and furniture if we know that we have a DepEd secretary who is working with us,” he said. 

‘Show patriotism’

Meanwhile, Education Undersecretary Vilma Labrador challenged newly elected officials to show patriotism by giving more priority to quality education.

Speaking as guest of honor at the 112th anniversary celebration of Philippine independence at the patio of the historic Barasoain Church in Bulacan, Labrador said there is only one formula for nation building and that is providing more schools to children.

This year’s Independence celebration carries the theme “Kalayaan, Tagumpay ng Bayan.”

Labrador stressed that there is “no need to die, no need to get incarcerated to show patriotism. Just love the country by becoming good citizens and by prioritizing education as the new ‘battle cry’ for freedom.”

She also urged teachers to instill among students the significance of Barasoain Church in Philippine history.

She said important events have transpired in the historic church in the quest for freedom – the opening of the Malolos Congress on Sept. 15, 1898 and the establishment of the First Philippine Republic (or the Malolos Republic) on Jan. 23, 1899.

“I would like the children to feel the pride of being Filipinos in this celebration. I want them to feel the importance of this day,” she said.

Earlier, Labrador, together with Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Arturo Cacdac Jr., and Malolos city councilor Francisco Centeno, led the offering of flowers at the life-size bronze statue of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, president of the First Philippine Republic, at the patio of Barasoain Church.

Cacdac said what transpired on the grounds of Barasoain more than a century ago have paved the way for present day Filipinos to enjoy freedom and sovereignty from colonial rule.

Outgoing Gov. Joselito Mendoza and incoming governor Wilhelmino Alvarado did not attend the affair.