VICE President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte encouraged local leaders to prioritize investments in education for the welfare of Filipino learners.

“As we start implementing Executive Order 138 empowering our local government units toward full autonomy and greater resiliency, I enjoin our local leaders to prioritize investments in education,” Duterte said during the Kalinga 28th Founding Anniversary that coincides with the 4th Bodong Festival.

“It has always been said that education is the greatest equalizer. Sa edukasyon po, walang mahirap, walang mayaman — lahat po sila ay graduates,” she added.

Duterte also laid out the plans to solve the problems of the Department of Education. She said that DepEd is focused on building more classrooms and school infrastructures, hiring more teachers, and the institutionalization of the blended-learning program.

The education chief added that DepEd is currently conducting talks with the House of Representatives and the Senate to update the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.

DepEd also reached out to the Department of Health to ensure that employees enjoy free health checkups.

The agency also consulted different groups of lawyers to provide free legal advice for the teaching and non-teaching staff of the department.

“Mayroon po kaming kinakausap na mga grupo ng mga abogado na kung pwede ay tulungan nila kami na mabigyan ng free legal advise ang ating mga guro bago sila pumirma ng kontrata ng loan obligation o utang,” Duterte said.

“Napakahalaga po na maintindihan ninyo kung ano ang pinipirmahan ninyong kontrata, at ma-explain sa inyo ng isang abogado kung ano po ang mangyayari kapag kayo po ay in default sa inyong pagbabayad sa inyong loan obligations. Kaya po kami, nakipag-usap at naghahanap ng partners para po nationwide, ay mayroon mapupuntahan ang ating mga guro para makapagpakonsulta sila kung ano ba ‘yung pinipirmahan nila,” she added.

The Vice President also enjoined everyone to fight insurgency and drug addiction that “continue to endanger the life and future of our Filipino youth.”

She said DepEd’s peace education program will help students disengage from extreme ideals and behaviors and ultimately build resilience against terror and resist the lure of drugs.