Gatchalian: VP Duterte’s experience as mayor plays important role as education chief

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 7) — Senator Win Gatchalian on Thursday said the experience of Vice President Sara Duterte as Davao City mayor is vital to her role as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

“The vice president is a very experienced local chief executive and that’s also very important in our education system,” Gatchalian told CNN Philippines’ The Source.

This was his response when asked about the statement made by ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro regarding the need for the DepEd chief to come from the sector, following the release of the Program for International Student Assessment 2022 results that showed the “dismal performance of Filipino students.”

Duterte was mayor in Davao City from 2010-2013 and from 2016-2022.

Gatchalian said he does not agree with Castro. He noted that local chief executives have a vital role in implementing the education system in their area, with the mayor seating as co-chairman of the city superintendent of schools in the school board.

It was also only during Duterte’s time when reforms were implemented, Gatchalian said. It includes the rolling out of the MATATAG K-12 curriculum and reducing tasks of public school teachers.

“We just have to be a little bit more patient to see the fruits of those reforms,” he added.