OUTGOING Davao City Mayor and presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, who accepted the task of being Education Secretary in the incoming Marcos administration, is pushing to produce "skilled learners" in the country.

"It was decided that I would work on producing skilled learners with the mindset to realize their full potential as individuals. Our country needs a future generation of patriotic Filipinos that advocate peace and discipline in their respective communities," Duterte-Carpio said in a statement on Thursday morning, May 12.

On Wednesday, May 11, presumptive president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos revealed that Duterte-Carpio had accepted the position of Secretary of Education (DepEd) once both of them officially take office at noon on June 30, 2022.

"Our incoming vice president has agreed to take the brief of the Department of Education. Si Inday Sara... tinanong ko sa kanya kung kaya niya yung trabaho -- dahil mahirap yung trabaho ng (I asked Inday Sara if she can handle the job — since it’s a tough job being the) Secretary of Education -- pero nag agree naman siya (but she agreed)," Marcos said in a Facebook live video.

The former senator also said that among the factors that made the mayor say yes to the position is her experience as a mother.

"At palagay ko, kasama diyan, dahil (In my view, among the considering factors is that) she is a mother. She wants to make sure her children are well-trained and well-educated. And that's the best motivation we can hope for," the presumptive president said.

Duterte-Carpio, the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, thanked Marcos for his trust and confidence in choosing her to head the education department.

Marcos, in a previous interview with reporters, bared the mayor's intention of heading DND. Duterte-Carpio, right after she cast her vote on Monday, May 9, declined to make any confirmation on her runningmate's statement, saying that she is not thinking of it at that time.

However, in her latest statement, she revealed that prior to the campaign, she and Marcos discussed that they planned to appoint her as secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND), but that was not pushed through.

"But seeing the way things are at the moment, I expect that people who want to see the new administration to fail, will fabricate intrigues about my loyalty and the DND position to break the UniTeam," she said.

She also said that she and Marcos "want a stable Philippines and the most harmonious administration possible."

Duterte-Carpio, who was promoted as colonel in the Reserve Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in 2018, earlier proposed a mandatory rendering of military service for all Filipinos 18 years old and above when she gets elected as vice-president.

In their latest discussion, Duterte-Carpio said it was decided that she would be focusing on addressing the education sector of the country.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones, in a statement on Wednesday evening, said that she is ready to work for the orderly transition of the DepEd leadership.

Briones also said they will turn over the Basic Education Plan 2030, a medium-term plan that will be turned over by an outgoing administration for the first time.

"We are confident that DepEd will be in able hands and anticipate a continuity," she said.

In response, Duterte-Carpio thanked DepEd for their readiness for the transition of leadership after the transition.

"We recognize the sincerity, hard work, and dedication of Sec. Liling in implementing education reforms under the Duterte administration," the mayor said. RGL