“I’m very pleased and happy to welcome our new officers of attached agencies in the Department. Firstly, Yvonne de Mesa, newly-appointed Governor for NBDB [National Book Development Board] and of course, [ASec.] Malcolm [Garma],” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said during the ceremony held last September 20.

Garma, a former DepEd Regional Director of the National Capital Region and Central Luzon, will assist in the managing and supervising of the Field Operations strand of the Department, which consists of 16 regions, 230 schools divisions, around 47,000 public schools, and community learning centers.

“With the appointment of Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma, DepEd can be assured of a vibrant, experienced, and more energetic leader in the Field Operations,” Undersecretary for Field Operations, Palarong Pambansa Secretariat, and DEACO Atty. Revsee A. Escobedo shared.

Aside from the Field Operations, Garma will also facilitate and administer the NAS, which is established by virtue of Republic Act No. 11470 to help talented student-athletes pursue their academic and sports career at the same time.

Briones also highlighted the importance of sports in the physical and mental health of the student-athletes and how Filipinos show their enthusiasm for different sports disciplines. 

“Filipinos have always loved sports. We adore them, we love them, and we look forward to the time when we’ll be producing ‘yong sinasabi nating world-class sportspersons. We are very happy to have NAS with us, as well as the strengthening of our regional operations,” Briones said. 

Along with ASec. Garma’s oath-taking, the DepEd family welcomed Yvonne Fuentes de Mesa as the newest member of the Governing Board of NBDB, one of the agency’s attached agencies.

NBDB was established through Republic Act No. 8047 to emphasize the importance of books in nation-building and be of assistance to the book publishing industry.