MANILA — Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones announced on Monday the designation of new spokespersons of the agency.
Briones named Assistant Secretary Nepomuceno Malaluan and Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla as the official spokespersons of the department during her speech at the flag-raising ceremony at the DepEd central office in Pasig City.
“I will remain as the main spokesperson of DepEd. The two spokespersons will speak on my behalf whenever I’m not available,” she said.
Malaluan and Sevilla were designated to the position in pursuance to DepEd Memorandum No. 096, series 2018 which also states that all previous designations of DepEd spokespersons are revoked.
Briones said that the initiative aims “to provide other members of DepEd Executive Committee (ExeCom) to speak on behalf of the department” and “to give previous spokespersons time to attend to their other official duties.”
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Malaluan said that other members of the ExeCom “may be contacted by the media for interview or statements under the directive that they will seek clearance from Briones.”
“She (Briones) is not restricting anyone to speak. What she’s saying is, again a clarification that we are to be her representative from here on. Even on our side, we will direct some questions to other ExeCom members who are already in-charge of the programs you’ll be asking,” he said.
In a statement, former DepEd spokesperson Undersecretary Tonisito Umali said that he supports Briones’ pronouncements and that he will work hard to perform his duties as undersecretary for Legislative Liaison Office, External Partnerships Service and School Sports.
“I personally thank our Ma’am Liling Briones for the opportunity given me to serve in that capacity by allowing me to remain as one of DepEd’s co-spokespersons for almost another two years since June 30, 2016,” he said.
Malaluan is DepEd Chief of Staff and representative in the Cabinet Assistance System while Sevilla is education undersecretary for Finance-Budget and Performance Monitoring. (Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA)
