Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PASIG CITY, October 21, 2016 – Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones marked her 100th
day as Education chief by iterating the Department’s 10-point agenda before more than 190
education stakeholders and partners on Oct. 14, and to the DepEd Central Office employees
and some regional and division heads on Oct. 17.
Addressing the Central Office personnel during a general assembly on Monday, Briones
presented an update on her administration’s first 100 days. She also laid out a 10-point agenda,
emphasizing how this is based on her team’s vision and the priorities of the Duterte
administration.
However, Briones was quick to assure continuity of the key programs of the previous
administration.
“Hindi dahil bago ang Secretary o dahil bago ang administrasyon, ay bago na ang lahat.
Kailangan may continuity. Kung anuman ang ginagawa natin ngayon, it builds on the past and
present programs,” Briones said.
The Secretary also acknowledged the basic challenges of the Department, such as raising the
quality of education, making education accesible and relevant to the urgent needs and
opportunities of the country, and making education truly liberating.
Aside from enhancing drug education, expanding the reach of ALS is another DepEd program
that has President Duterte’s expressed support.
DepEd is working double-time to revive and expand the coverage of ALS. Alternative learning
methods are also being developed for learners in hard-to-reach mountain regions and small
islands, as well as densely populated areas.
The anticipated large number of drop-outs and massive displacement of teachers did not occur.
There are more than 1.5 million Grade 11 enrollees and more than 36,000 teacher items were
created for Senior High School (SHS).
On October 19, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the 2017
General Appropriations Act (GAA) that will provide P3.35 trillion national budget to finance
government operations in 2017. P567.5 billion is allotted to DepEd, the biggest budget
allocation among all government agencies.
2. DepEd has also met with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary to
reconstitute the Joint Technical Working Group on the Basic Education Facilities and target
prompt execution of school buildings construction under the 2017 budget.
Changes in the current planning templates will be introduced to address inflexibility in costing
standards and delays in field validation of planned projects.
“No organization can succeed without an appropriate financial management system which will
be used to fund our dreams, promises, and programs,” she added.
4. In a move to support the campaign against the proliferation of illegal drug use, DepEd
convened with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to form a Working Group that will forge a
common legal position on drug testing for students and personnel among DepEd, the
Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and Technicial Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA), and implement the comprehensive drug testing initiative in partnership with
the Department of Health (DOH).
5. One education intervention to help keep schoolchildren in school until completion of basic
education is the continuation of school-based feeding programs. The proposal to have the
massive feeding program will be reviewed amid budget implications.
6. Briones stressed that to be part of DepEd, excellent education credentials are but the
minimum qualification. Employees should strive to be more capacitated and informed on the
state of education and the needs of the country. Therefore, the agency will introduce curricular
and non-curricular programs, and undertake institutional capacity building to be responsive to
the aspirations and urgent needs of the nation.
Improvement of the capacity of teachers, education leaders, and DepEd personnel includes the
strengthening of DepEd Regional Offices’ capacity in managing and hosting training programs,
and the training on curriculum for teachers and ALS facilitators.
7. Secretary Briones emphasized the importance of integrating, reflecting, and expressing the
Philippines’ rich historical experiences in the educational system. She acknowledged the
challenges to move away from data and technology to innovation, creativity, critical thinking,
and acceptance of and adjustment to changes.
During the 6th APEC Education Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) in Peru, Briones said that while
Science and Technology is also being offered to students as early as Grade 3 and 4, DepEd is
loyal not only to the culture and arts but also to Philippine history and the directions of the
development program.
8. DepEd is eyeing the expansion of the scope of academic and non-academic employee welfare
through the improvement of the provident fund.
10. Amid concerns and debates, Secretary Briones maintained that the Department will
continue partnerships with the private sector.