President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara as the next Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), succeeding Vice President Sara Duterte.
The announcement came during the 17th Cabinet Meeting in Malacañang Palace. “Sonny has agreed to take on the brief of the Department of Education,” President Marcos said.
Angara was chosen over Negros Occidental 3rd District Congressman Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez for the position.
Angara’s Qualifications for DepEd
Angara brings extensive experience and qualifications to the role. He has a long history of advocating for educational reform since joining the Senate in 2013, a news release from the palace said.
He holds an impressive academic background to include: a Master of Laws from Harvard University, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics.
His legislative track record includes championing landmark reforms like the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act and the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (K-12). Additionally, he has garnered endorsements from key educational organizations like COCOPEA (Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations) and PACU (Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities), the release added.
President Marcos highlighted the critical role of DepEd in the Philippines, emphasizing the need for a strong leader to oversee its vast operations. “DepEd is arguably the most important department given the crucial role of education,” he stated.
In a statement following Angara’s appointment, Benitez said: “We welcome the appointment of Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara as Secretary of Education. He is the right man for the job.”
he added that the educational sector needs someone like Angara who intimately knows the ins and outs of our education system, and understands it from a finance and management perspective.
Benitez also expressed his full support to Angara’s leadership and look forward to continuing working closely with him and education stakeholders to fix the country’s education system and adapt it to changing times.
