Gloria served the old Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) from July 1994 to January of 1998 after being appointed by then President Fidel V. Ramos.
During his term, Gloria focused on four major areas, namely: access to basic education, improvement of the quality of education, bringing the industry and academe closer, and to develop education that cares for its students and teachers.
Among the accomplishments made during his term were the initiation of the War on Waste (WOW), which seeks to instill the values of prudence and resourcefulness in the use of resources among students, the institution of measures to support teacher’s cooperatives, the organization of Parent-Teacher-Community Associations (PTCAs) in schools, establishment of the DECS Socialized Housing Project in Antipolo, Rizal for DECS teaching and non-teaching personnel, and worked for the salary increase of teaching and non-teaching personnel.
It was also during his term when the Adopt-A-School Program, aimed at generating investments and support to education outside the funding mainstream and national budget, was established.
"We mourn the loss of Secretary Ricardo Gloria," DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus said. "He served our nation well. We hope to continue his good work, especially insofar as attracting more private sector support for basic education under the Adopt-A-School Program, which began during his term."
Prior to his appointment as education secretary, Gloria served as governor of the Board of Investments and as secretary of the Department of Science and Technology.
His remains lie in state at the Christian International School in UP Los Baños. His body will be transferred to Digos City, Davao del Sur tomorrow.