PASIG CITY, September 11 – Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones emphasized the Duterte administration’s thrust of providing a desirable quality of life for Filipinos during her keynote speech at the UP-NCPAG 65th Anniversary International Conference.
Speaking on behalf of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the Secretary discussed the “Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay,” which is articulated in AmBisyon Natin 2040.
“This is based on the study of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) that by 2040, Filipinos will enjoy a stable and comfortable lifestyle, secure in the knowledge that we have enough for our daily needs and unexpected expenses, that we can plan and prepare for our own and our children’s future; our family live together in a place of our own, and we have the freedom to go where we desire, protected and enabled by a clean, efficient, and fair government,” said Secretary Briones.
The Secretary also mentioned the President’s 10-point Socioeconomic Agenda and the government’s thrust, to combat the issues of poverty, corruption, and inefficiency.
“Even before the start of the administration in 2016, the incoming economic team convened the business sector and key civil society actors. With more than 20 summits held, various documents crafted, the government committed to leading the country towards a desirable quality of life for all,” the Secretary added.
Moving on to the education sector, the Secretary narrated the Department’s own 10-point program and what the Department has done so far.
“Full implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the K to 12 program; enriching the K to 12 program with drug education, reproductive health awareness and disaster preparedness – President Duterte gave these instructions to me when he included me in his Cabinet. Intensification and expansion of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) because we know that not every child has the opportunity to go to school in spite of all our efforts; reduction of school drop-outs is still a problem because of poverty. Enrichment of culture and arts, which explains why the National Museum is under DepEd, this place is a great source of our history, culture and our arts as a people. Another is financial management reforms because this is a deeply felt need not only in DepEd, but in other government agencies as well. The expansion of the scope of employee welfare; an active, transparent, consultative, collaborative, and corrupt-free leadership. And lastly, to continue existing cooperation with the private sector and communities,” said Secretary Briones.
Carrying the theme, “Public Administration in Changing Times: New Norms and Sustainable Reforms,” the conference aims to bring together scholars, researchers, and practitioners of Public Administration (PA) and other related fields in a collective analysis of new norms and sustainable reforms that challenge the performance of governments, public institutions and their governance partners all over the world. It also aims to foster the exchange of ideas about the future of governing and governance in changing times. (DepEd)
