Ma. Teresa Montemayor/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Tuesday stressed the importance of a strong partnership between the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUs) in providing quality education.
In her speech at the inauguration of the Flora A. Ylagan Senior High School Building in Quezon City, Briones said the establishment of learning facilities for the Filipino youth is a product of the LGUs’ political will as well.
The Flora A. Ylagan Senior High School features a four-storey building with 23 classrooms and laboratories. It is located along Malakas St. in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City.
“All our partners, inspirers, helpers, and supporters, because of their mandate for education, are very generous and they have improved public schools, donated buildings and they have helped our teachers and learners whenever the need arises,” she said.
Briones said Quezon City “under Mayor Bautista and his officials is special because it has invested heavily on education.”
“I’m very grateful for this because Quezon City is perhaps one of the largest urban local government that has supported us in academics and sports, and sometimes transportation and relief to our teachers and students,” she said.
The education chief lauded the school’s initiative to offer technical-vocational courses, which would “enable graduates to find jobs if they wish to work.”
Citing Quezon City as the biggest city in Manila, Briones suggested the establishment of a cultural center in the area.
“Quezon City should have its own cultural center so that we don’t have to travel far when there are big cultural activities,” she said.
Meanwhile, outgoing Mayor Herbert Bautista, in his speech, said it is the citizens who make the improvement and provision of education services in the city possible.
“With the revenues, we’re able to put up school buildings, buying properties, allowances for the education center. These achievements are not just because of the efforts of DepEd and the Quezon City government but because of the citizens of Quezon City who are diligent in paying their taxes, which effect the delivery of services in the city both in (the) education sector and the barangay sector,” he added.
