BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

In a recent dialogue with school leaders and teachers of La Paz, Tarlac, Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized his priorities to construct new school buildings, establish new classrooms, and provide digital devices to both learners and teachers.

According to Sec. Angara, the Department of Education (DepEd) is exploring public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a key solution to address the perennial problem on classroom backlogs.

“Ang tinutulak natin ngayon is mag-PPP tayo, public-private partnerships. Ibig sabihin, malakihan, bulto-bulto, 1,000 classrooms. Magpapa-bid tayo ng isang libong school buildings at i-o-offer natin sa private sector na magko-construct,” Sec. Angara said.

With limited resources and a protracted classroom shortage, the Education Secretary likewise called for increased awareness on the Adopt-A-School Program, underscoring the law’s tax benefits to the adopting company or enterprise.

“Baka hindi alam noong ibang negosyante o ibang nagdo-donate, ibang charitable organizations, ipaalam niyo sa kanila na kapag nagdo-donate sila ng school building, maide-deduct nila doon sa kanilang taxable income,” Angara noted.

“Marami lang hindi nakakaalam na may batas na ganoon. So with the help of the community, sana maipaalam natin sa kanila,” he said.

Sec. Angara added the agency’s focus on prioritizing digital technology to enhance learning opportunities and introduce innovations for learners and teachers.

With the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 tests coming up, Sec. Angara encouraged education officials to intensify preparations through practice tests, with the focus on nurturing learners’ critical thinking, problem solving, and analytical skills.

The meeting in Tarlac was attended by DepEd Regional Director Ronnie Mallari, PhD, CESO V; La Paz Mayor Venustiano D. Jordan; and other local government officials.

Apart from the dialogue with public school teachers, Sec. Angara was in Tarlac to lead the blessing and inauguration of Tarlac State University’s extended building, which the Secretary funded in 2023 when he was still senator. The building was named after his late father, Sen. Edgardo J. Angara.

*All Photos from DepEd