Lapus is now DepEd secretary
Saturday, July 29, 2006
AFTER a smooth turnover from Education Officer in Charge Fe Hidalgo, former representative Jesli Lapus of Tarlac on Friday assumed his new post as education secretary.
The threat of a rally or barricade against his assumption of office, originally planned by the DepEd Employees’ Union, fizzled out when Lapus assured them that he was open for a dialogue and was willing to listen to their grievances.
Domingo Alidon, union president, told The Manila Times that the union granted Lapus’ request for a dialogue, which was scheduled Friday night. Alidon said his group would present to Lapus its five parameters, which the union wanted Lapus to uphold.
The parameters are no politicking during Lapus’ term, respect for unionism, continuation of key education reforms implemented by Hidalgo and former secretaries, professional handling of the department and openness in all actions.
Alidon did not rule any future protests against Lapus, saying that their action would depend on the outcome of their dialogue.
On his first day in office, Lapus quickly went down to business. He held a meeting with regional directors and key officials and outlined his priorities for the department.
He stressed the need to improve the management and implementation of its programs. “I think it is not necessary to overhaul the existing programs of the department,” Lapus said in a statement. “I have seen the programs of the department, and there are very good programs. What it just needs is better management and implementation.”
Lapus said there is a need for the passage of the 2006 national budget for the department, which is now in the Senate, and for the department to get more resources for the improvement of the quality of education in the country.
Among his plans will be to coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on the use of confiscated logs for manufacturing of more desks and chairs for public schools and the passage of a bill which will give the department 10 percent of the annual gross revenues of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., projected to be at around P2.5 billion a year.
Lapus said the adopt-a-school program will be relaunch where the private sector can help support public education.
Before his appointment as education secretary, Lapus served as Tarlac congressman for three consecutive terms. His term in office as congressman would have expired next year. He taught at the Asian Institute of Management, Ateneo de Manila University and Maryknoll College and served as agrarian reform undersecretary.
“We are optimistic that we will be able to harness a more energetic, more focused implementation of our programs and projects,” Lapus said. -- Jonathan M. Hicap
AFTER a smooth turnover from Education Officer in Charge Fe Hidalgo, former representative Jesli Lapus of Tarlac on Friday assumed his new post as education secretary.
The threat of a rally or barricade against his assumption of office, originally planned by the DepEd Employees’ Union, fizzled out when Lapus assured them that he was open for a dialogue and was willing to listen to their grievances.
Domingo Alidon, union president, told The Manila Times that the union granted Lapus’ request for a dialogue, which was scheduled Friday night. Alidon said his group would present to Lapus its five parameters, which the union wanted Lapus to uphold.
The parameters are no politicking during Lapus’ term, respect for unionism, continuation of key education reforms implemented by Hidalgo and former secretaries, professional handling of the department and openness in all actions.
Alidon did not rule any future protests against Lapus, saying that their action would depend on the outcome of their dialogue.
On his first day in office, Lapus quickly went down to business. He held a meeting with regional directors and key officials and outlined his priorities for the department.
He stressed the need to improve the management and implementation of its programs. “I think it is not necessary to overhaul the existing programs of the department,” Lapus said in a statement. “I have seen the programs of the department, and there are very good programs. What it just needs is better management and implementation.”
Lapus said there is a need for the passage of the 2006 national budget for the department, which is now in the Senate, and for the department to get more resources for the improvement of the quality of education in the country.
Among his plans will be to coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on the use of confiscated logs for manufacturing of more desks and chairs for public schools and the passage of a bill which will give the department 10 percent of the annual gross revenues of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., projected to be at around P2.5 billion a year.
Lapus said the adopt-a-school program will be relaunch where the private sector can help support public education.
Before his appointment as education secretary, Lapus served as Tarlac congressman for three consecutive terms. His term in office as congressman would have expired next year. He taught at the Asian Institute of Management, Ateneo de Manila University and Maryknoll College and served as agrarian reform undersecretary.
“We are optimistic that we will be able to harness a more energetic, more focused implementation of our programs and projects,” Lapus said. -- Jonathan M. Hicap
posted by Jonah | 3:24 PM
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