Senator Sonny Angara during the Senate hearing on proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution in Pasay City on February 12, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

Senator Sonny Angara during the Senate hearing on proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution in Pasay City on February 12, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171989358364820231113-senate-angara-judiciary-budget-SPRIB.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Sen. Sonny Angara, chairperson of the Committee on Finance, defends the 2024 budget of the Judiciary during Monday’s plenary session November 13, 2023. Senate PRIB Photos/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Sonny Angara, chairperson of the Committee on Finance, defends the 2024 budget of the Judiciary during Monday’s plenary session November 13, 2023. <em>Senate PRIB Photos/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>3rd UPDATE</strong>) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Sen. Juan Edgardo &quot;Sonny&quot; Angara as the new Education Secretary.</p><p>Angara will replace Vice President Sara Duterte, who <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/19/sara-duterte-resigns-from-marcos-cabinet-palace-1450">announced her resignation from the agency on June 19</a> and will officially step down as its chief on July 19.</p><p>Angara has said that he is <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/1/angara-says-willing-to-head-deped-if-tapped-by-marcos-jr-1334">ready to helm the education department</a>, the largest bureaucracy in the government, if Marcos appoints him to the agency.</p><p>Prior to the announcement, Marcos said that he was having a hard time picking the new DepEd secretary, noting the need to get the appointment right.</p><p>He said he had gone through the qualifications of many individuals considered for the role, and that he was taking into account the public&#x27;s many expectations for the new DepEd secretary, including being an educator, an administrator, or a historian.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/29/marcos-jr-says-looking-for-deped-chief-who-can-raise-ph-test-scores-1210">READ: Marcos Jr. says looking for DepEd chief who can raise PH test scores</a>  </div><p>In a statement on Tuesday, Angara, a lawyer by training, said he was deeply &quot;honored and grateful&quot; for the appointment.</p><p>&quot;This significant responsibility is one I accept with humility and a profound sense of duty,&quot; he said.</p><p>He added that he looks forward to working with all sectors, including Vice President Duterte, to &quot;build on her accomplishments&quot; and to ensure access to quality education.</p><p>&quot;Education is the cornerstone of our nation&#x27;s future, and it is through collective effort that we can address the challenges and seize the opportunities ahead,&quot; Angara, who is on his second of two allowed consecutive Senate terms, said.</p><p>&quot;I am eager to collaborate with President Marcos and the entire administration in serving our students, supporting our teachers, and enhancing the overall quality of education in our country,&quot; he also said.</p><p>Angara has 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.</p><p>His prior legislative work includes the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act and the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (K-12).</p><p>Angara had been endorsed by key educational organizations such as the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) and the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU).</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/19/lack-of-textbooks-and-untrained-teachers-highlight-ph-education-issues-study-2102">RELATED: Lack of textbooks, untrained teachers highlight PH education issues, according to study</a></div><p>A teachers&#x27; group had earlier called on Marcos to appoint an educator and not a politician to the top education post.</p><p>Benjo Basas, Teachers&#x27; Dignity Coalition&#x27;s national chairperson, pointed out in a release that &quot;politicians always have political considerations, whether for upcoming elections or the interests of their party and political clan.&quot;</p><p>ACT Teachers party-list had also warned against &quot;political accommodations&quot; in picking the new DepEd chief.</p><p>&quot;Kailangan talaga natin ay may bitbit na solusyon sa education crisis, may malasakit sa pagtaas ng suweldo ng mga teachers at mga kawani sa edukasyon,&quot; Rep. France Castro said on June 20.</p><p>(We need someone who will bring a solution to the education crisis and who will push for higher pay and benefits for teachers and education workers.) </p><p>The Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) welcomed Angara&#x27;s appointment, saying in a release that his &quot;swift&quot; appointment is &quot;crucial to ensure that there is no disruption&quot; in Filipino children&#x27;s education.</p><p>PBEd said that while it acknowledges the significance of emphasizing competence over political considerations in the appointment of a new DepEd secretary, Angara &quot;is expected to use his political savvy to navigate legislative processes, build partnerships, and secure resources and support for learners and teachers.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/2/next-deped-chief-should-be-educator-not-politician-teachers-group-927">READ: Next DepEd chief should be educator not politician — teachers&#x27; group</a></div><div><strong>— with a report from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Ms5qsk5kA4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WJ-vpGam64c?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara as the new Education Secretary.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara as the new Education Secretary.

Sonny Angara is new DepEd chief | ABS-CBN

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Sonny Angara is new DepEd chief

Sonny Angara is new DepEd chief

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Published Jul 02, 2024 11:57 AM PHT

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Updated Jul 02, 2024 04:07 PM PHT

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