PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte awarded Education Secretary Leonor Briones and other Cabinet officials for helping the government address the Covid19 pandemic.

President Duterte conferred the Presidential Award on Briones, other Cabinet secretaries, members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and medical experts during the ceremony.

“I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to His Excellency President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for this recognition. We in the Cabinet and IATF have vowed to always serve the Filipino people, and I have kept this promise close to my heart, especially in responding to the challenges of Covif19 pandemic in basic education,” Briones said.

“This award also represents the collaborative programs and projects put together by our hardworking field officials and partners, who have always championed the welfare of the Filipino youth and children,” she added.

During the pandemic, DepEd crafted the Basic Education–Learning Continuity Plan to ensure that education will continue.

The department also provided logistical and technical assistance to its field offices and schools, including the distribution of gadgets and learning materials for the distance learning setup.

“The Department has been true to its mandate in providing inclusive, liberating, accessible and quality basic education, and that is why we formulated policies amid the pandemic that will ensure to prioritize the health and safety of the learners and teachers in this setup,” Briones said.

Also awarded by the  President was Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, IATF-IED Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galver, Jr., Presidential Communications Office and Spokesperson Martin Andanar and former Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.