Sen. Sonny Angara attends a Senate hearing on Feb. 12, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA -- Sen. Sonny Angara said on Tuesday he was willing to work with anyone as the incoming head of the Department of Education (DepEd). 

This, after several agency officials, including Undersecretary Michael Poa, tendered their resignations.

5 DepEd execs resign ahead of Angara's takeover of agency

In a chance interview, Angara said he had a series of meetings with key DepEd officials even before the official turnover ceremony on Thursday. 

But Angara said he has yet to personally meet Vice President and outgoing DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte. 

"Marami kaming meetings, nagmi-meeting kami with the undersecretaries and assistant secretaries at kahapon ka-meeting namin ang mga regional directors. At least pagpasok natin sa Biyernes, medyo kabisado na natin 'yung ibang issue at mga lalanding sa table namin na kailangan pirmahan at least di na tumagal," Angara told the media. 

Angara said the timing of his appointment as the new chief of DepEd was crucial, especially since classes would open on July 29 and the budget season was approaching.

"Willing to work with anyone ako eh. Di naman ito political position diba so gusto natin eh yung pagka-appoint natin gitnang-gitna ng taon pasukan na budget season na dapat ready tayo, tayo ang mag-adjust, hindi sila," Angara added. 

He thanked the DepEd for its cooperation during the transition period. 

"Very cooperative sila nagpapasalamat kami sa mga officials dahil kahit sila’y may trabaho eh nagbibigay sila ng oras para ma-brief kami para di kami magulat pagpasok namin," he said. 

Urgent issues for Angara include the opening of classes and review of the existing curriculum, among others. 

Angara and Duterte are set to meet on Thursday for the formal turnover ceremony at the DepEd central office in Pasig City, he said.

When asked if he would ask for confidential funds, Angara said he preferred to maintain a status quo and would not ask for one. 

"Sa confidential funds, si VP naman hindi na humingi on the last 2 budgets…so tuloy na lang namin yun. Hindi na kami hihingi," he said.

Meanwhile, Angara believes inspiring students and teachers to excel more will be one of the biggest challenges for him as the DepEd chief. 

"'Pag inspired yung ating mga estudyante, eager sila na mag-aral, yung guro naman excited na magturo. Yun ang gusto natin magawa," Angara said. 

For Angara, it is clear that there's poor implementation of the K-12 program.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s marching order for him is to improve the implementation of the program, he said.

"Maganda yung concept ng K to 12 mabigyan ng trabaho ang graduates, prepare for jobs here and abroad ahead… Kaso butas-butas yung pag implementation natin so ngayon yung mga konting pagkukulang na yun eh pupunan po natin," Angara said.

"Yung facilities yung curriculum ah yung lack of accreditation for tech-voc graduate kaya yung mga employers 'di alam ang tinapos neto may degree nga siya pero ano yung actual skills niya, skills and competencies," he added.

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