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Saturday, July 15, 2006
Business groups welcome lawmaker's appointment as education chief
FOUR major business organizations supported the decision of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to designate Tarlac Representative Jesli Lapus as the new education secretary.
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Donald Dee said Lapus's appointment provides the needed leadership to institutionalize key internal and external reforms that will cater to the enhancement of the Philippine educational system.
"Secretary Lapus is a major ally in educational reform. His leadership and ability to influence policy reform will be instrumental to the improvement of quality of education in the country. I note that his appointment has been received with some skepticism from the insiders in the DepEd (Department of Education), but this will eventually translate to fruitful gains for the government since Secretary Lapuz has the ear of the President on some of the most pressing policy issues on education," Dee said.
Dee emphasized the need to strengthen basic education in the country. Among the pressing issues that have to be addressed according to Dee are the lack of classrooms and educational materials, quality of teachers, students' proficiency in important subjects like English, Math and Science.
"Basic education is the foothold to economic competitiveness. Unfortunately, it is in this area, that we lack the needed physical and teaching facilities to make our education at par with rest of Asia and the world," Dee added.
The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCI), for its part, said the President has chosen the best candidate for her Cabinet."
FFCCCII president Francis Chua noted Lapus's rich experience, as a congressman for nearly three years now and chairman of the House ways and means committee and member of the House committee on basic education, provide new and brighter prospects for DepEd.
"He has the leadership to institute the key and needed reforms that will uplift the quality of education in the country," Chua added.
Chua also said that given the stiff competition that awaits the future graduates as they enter the labor force, basic education should be strengthened and prioritized in terms of funding provision and policy support.
We have to improve the quality of our graduates and students. This will only be possible if we put a premium to educational facilities such as classrooms, access to computers and internet, quality teaching materials and teachers, in allocating budget and financial support," Chua added.
The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop), on the other hand, said Lapus's appointment is a good indication that government is aggressive in addressing the policy issues on educational reform and development in the country.
"Given Secretary Lapus's management expertise as a very successful and productive business executive, as well as his exposure and leadership in the policy and legislative areas, he will without doubt very well serve as an instrument of policy change to improve the quality of education in the country. We have lagged behind our neighbors in the region in addressing the growing population of students especially in basic education," said Ecop chairman Miguel Varela.
Varela said there is a need to enhance the quality of teachers; expose senior officials of DepEd to effective management techniques as well as increase the number of classrooms and supplies of educational materials especially in the countryside.
"To be able to generate the best and productive labor force, basic education must necessarily be improved. These issues require a strong and aggressive campaign for additional funding for education. Lapus has the capability and leadership to make these issues known and addressed thoroughly," Varela added.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Exporters' Confederation (Philexport) rallied behind Lapus.
Philexport president Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. believes in the experience and leadership of Lapus. Amidst skepticism by DepEd insiders on Lapus's appointment to head the country's education department, Oritz-Luis noted that it is the President's prerogative to choose someone who she can trust to bring necessary changes and ideas to her Cabinet.
"Everybody expects the President to improve all agencies and department of the bureaucracy. So why should anybody pretend to know better than that president who is best to fill-in particular jobs. After all, the President is held accountable for their performance. People should only question the appointees if the person being appointed is clearly not qualified for the job," Ortiz-Luis said. (Press release)
(July 15, 2006 issue)
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