VICE President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte urged mayors to assess the needs of schools in their jurisdictions even as she appealed to local government units to support the education sector.

“While our President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has committed to increase investments in education in the next six years, let me take this opportunity to enjoin our mayors to convene your local school board and evaluate the need of your local schools,” Duterte said during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines’ General Assembly held at the Manila Hotel.

“Our schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas are in dire need of your support. An investment in education secures the future peace and progress of your locality,” she added.

Duterte underscored the role of mayors in pursuing programs for economic advancement and cultural development.

“As a former mayor, I am aware of the amount of responsibility that comes with the opportunity to lead and direct our localities to the path of greater growth and sustainable development,” she said.

She also reiterated the significance of good governance in building legacies and being counterparts of the national government in bringing forward inclusive progress for the country and its people.

“Our collective gains in building avenues for prosperity and contributing to the overall advancement of our nation are the lasting legacies we will leave behind not just as local leaders but also as drivers of transformative change,” she said.

The Vice President thanked local chief executives for their immense support to the Department of Education’s recovery plan.

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa suporta ng maraming mga local government units na nagroll-out ng kanilang mga reading programs, math and science programs nila para sa kanilang mga learners,” she added.

Duterte said the support from local government units immensely helped the education sector in catching up with the lost time teaching the learners.

“The Department of Education’s gargantuan task of shepherding 28 million learners back to school in August last year would not have been possible without your support,” she said.

DepEd’s Learning Recovery Plan is a mechanism implemented to bridge the learning gaps in basic education brought about by the pandemic.