EDUCATION Secretary Sonny Angara received a warm welcome from his former colleagues as the Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget proposal, sponsored by Senator Pia Cayetano, was endorsed to the plenary.

Senate Committee on Basic Education Chairperson Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian shared his excitement about the leadership of Secretary Angara and what he can bring to the table on education reforms.

“I’m very optimistic that Sec. Sonny will bring in a lot of important reforms in the education sector and good luck we’re here to support your programs and your need in the Department,” Gatchalian emphasized.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros likewise commended the leadership of Sec. Angara and the agency for prioritizing mental health and providing safe spaces in schools.

“Maraming salamat, Sec. It’s really good to hear about the temporary workaround that DepEd has arrived at. At talagang may both Legislative and Executive history behind this. Naalala ko no’ng tina-trabaho pa natin what became the Mental Health Law,” Hontiveros noted.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo also thanked the newly minted Education chief for his immediate action in reiterating the ‘no collection‘ policy of DepEd.

“Natigil ‘yong voluntary payments from the learners and teachers because of the letter. You’ve sent me a copy of that. And after that, a week or so, later, meron akong natanggap na mga letter sa mga magulang, communications, at nagpapasalamat. Thank you, Senator Angara tungkol diyan,” Tulfo shared.

Sen. Koko Pimentel, Sen. Joel Villanueva, Sen. Nancy Binay, and Sen. Francis Tolentino also wished Angara the best in his stint as the Education Secretary during the five hours of deliberations at the Senate Committee level.

DepEd and its attached agencies have a P793.18 billion budget proposal under the National Expenditures Program for 2025.

The Department will now be waiting for the Plenary Sessions of both the House of Representatives and Senate to further defend the budget proposal of the agency.