BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

For years, Carmona’s schools were under the vast umbrella of the Schools Division of Cavite Province, one of the largest in CALABARZON.

With the SDO managing 345 schools then, the needs of teachers and learners of the 11 schools in Carmona often competed with those of larger municipalities. Many local initiatives had to wait their turn, as resources were stretched thin across the province’s many schools.

But that chapter has finally closed.

On Thursday, October 30, Education Secretary Sonny Angara led the inauguration of the Schools Division Office (SDO) of the City of Carmona, following the city’s conversion into a component city through Republic Act No. 11938 enacted in February 2023.

“Bago maging component city ang Carmona, ito ay nasa ilalim ng SDO Cavite Province—isa sa pinakamalalaking dibisyon sa CALABARZON,” Angara said. “Ngayon, magkakaroon na ng sariling SDO funds ang lungsod, na tiyak na makatutulong sa mga guro, kawani, at mag-aaral dito sa Carmona.”

Cavite 5th District Representative Atty. Roy Loyola credited then-Senator Sonny Angara, now serving as Education Secretary, as one of the strongest advocates of the measure in the Senate.

Now at the helm of DepEd, Secretary Angara wasted no time turning the promise of the law into tangible action. He immediately initiated the creation of Carmona’s own Schools Division Office, ensuring that the city’s teachers, personnel, and learners would no longer have to wait for attention or resources.

During the ceremony, Angara thanked Rep. Loyola, Mayor Dra. Dahlia Loyola, and city officials for their enduring commitment to education, and to congratulate the pioneering officials of SDO Carmona led by OIC-Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Joepi F. Falqueza and OIC-Assistant SDS Wilson G. Centeno.

He also reaffirmed DepEd’s full commitment to the city’s education programs under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., emphasizing that this localized structure will allow the Department to respond more effectively to learner needs. The approach is also aligned with the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) recommendation to rationalize DepEd’s structure for more equitable and efficient service delivery.

Angara shared that Congress has recently adjusted funding priorities, reallocating some flood control funds to allow for an increase in DepEd’s budget, an opportunity to expand investments in schools and teachers across the country.

Funded through a ₱30-million national subsidy under the Financial Assistance to Local Government Unit – Other Infrastructure Program, the SDO Carmona will embody the principles of Transparent, Ethical, and Accountable (TEA) Governance, and its mission to deliver accessible, inclusive, and liberating basic education.

“The creation of SDO Carmona is a story of persistence, partnership, and the promise that every new city brings new hope for our learners,” Angara said.

SDO City of Carmona is the 25th Division of DepEd CALABARZON Region, led by Regional Director Atty. Alberto Escobarte. 

*All Photos from DepEd