Outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday reached out to Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio to ensure a smooth turnover between them on June 30.
In a letter, Robredo congratulated Duterte-Carpio on her proclamation as the country’s 15th Vice President and said she is ready to meet the VP-elect’s transition team.
“We respectfully acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 27 May 2022 requesting an initial meeting between our respective teams,” her letter to the current Davao City mayor read.
“Please be advised that we are ready to meet to answer any questions you may have regarding the Office of the Vice President and to take all necessary steps to ensure a smooth transition,” Robredo added.
She instructed her chief of staff, Undersecretary Philip Dy, to communicate and coordinate directly with the incoming vice president’s team.
“Warmest congratulations on your proclamation as the 15th Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines,” Robredo wrote.
The Vice President returned to the country this week from New York where she attended the graduation of her youngest daughter, Jillian.
Meanwhile, the incoming education leadership, under Vice President-elect Duterte-Carpio, must continue pursuing education equity for all learners, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said on Monday.
President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had tapped his running mate, Duterte-Carpio, to succeed Briones on July 1, which the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte accepted.
At the Laging Handa public briefing, Briones cited the Duterte administration’s legacy of expanding opportunities for learners under the Alternative Learning System and the Last Mile Schools Program.
“This is truly expanded, the budget of the Department of Education became higher because this was given additional support by President Duterte, this alternative learning system,” she said.
“I presented this (in London), the alternative learning system and the second program, the Last Mile Schools Program—these are schools in far-flung areas, islands, mountains that are remote, very much lacking in facilities, etc,” the DepEd chief said.
Briones said these programs are reaching the educationally-deprived individuals, regardless of age and distance.
She said they are ready for a smooth transition with Duterte-Carpio, targeting June 20 to 30 as the scheduled turnover with their respective transition teams.
“I also need to have a one-on-one with VP Sara or incoming Secretary Sara, so she can be briefed on the different challenges and issues faced by the DepEd,” she noted.
Briones added they are ready to give their medium-term plan, which hugely includes learning digitization, needed for the country’s “catch-up” to the international setup.
“We are looking forward to a discussion of our medium-term plan because our plans are three-year, six-year (plans). But we also have a plan up to the year 2030 and I am very, very sure that the incoming Secretary of Education is open-minded,” she said.
Meanwhile, benefits for teachers should also be given priority, according to the DepEd.
On Saturday, Duterte-Carpio formally reached out to the office of Vice President Robredo and the Department of Education ahead of her expected takeover of both agencies starting July 1, her spokesman said.
In a statement, Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco, Duterte-Carpio’s spokesperson, said the Vice President-elect “has communicated formally with the Office of the Vice President… with the view to ensuring a smooth, orderly, and comprehensive transition.”
Barry Gutierrez, the spokesperson of Robredo, assured that preparations were ongoing for the turnover.
Also, the San Pedro Square in Davao City is being readied for Sara Duterte-Carpio’s inauguration as vice president-elect on June 19.
Briones had welcomed Duterte’s appointment and committed to work for an orderly transition of the DepEd leadership.
“As the transition process is still ongoing entailing detailed discussions on all aspects of the workings of the OVP and the DepEd, information on the completion of this process will be released once available,” Frasco said.