THE only thing we cannot control is how time seems to pass us by so quickly. Six years have gone as if it was only yesterday when we welcomed Secretary Leonor Briones to the Department of Education. Bittersweet as it may be, we choose to look at the brighter side of everything and celebrate the triumphs and victories that we, as a Department achieved through the passionate and steadfast leadership of Secretary Leonor Briones. She has been the powerful driving force for all DepEd personnel, from members of the National EXECOM and MANCOM down to our teachers and other school-based personnel.
Her immeasurable determination, selfless commitment, and genuine concern and love for our learners and teachers is what we can regard as “one for the books.” Secretary Liling served as the mother of our Department and her style of leadership centered not only on addressing present issues and concerns but her foresight and keen regard for the future of education is what inspired us to always serve with passion, competency, accountability, and transparency.
Under SLMB’s governance, DepEd Region III remained cognizant of the current administration’s goal of expanding access to basic education, improving quality and relevance, and modernizing education management and governance. With such, DepEd Central Luzon has aligned its programs, projects, and activities with the vision of our country’s President and also with that of our DepEd Secretary for the past 6 years.
Midway in the Secretary’s term, DepEd launched the educational reform program Sulong EduKalidad in 2019. The said program manifests its commitment in providing quality education as well as in addressing challenges to basic education.
DepEd Region III streamlined its strategic directions to the Department’s Sulong EduKalidad framework reflecting the region’s aspiration to deliver quality education and that is to soar above the challenges in basic education with its quadrants representing the 4 key reform pillars (KITE). Such was also the path followed with the crucial adjustments made in line with the BE-LCOP.
To address the goal of expanding access to basic education, DepEd Region III ensured to expand coverage of inclusive programs, expand access to secondary education, and improve partnership and linkages. To help improve quality and relevance, DepEd Region III maintained ideal ratios of basic education inputs, improved quality of teachers, expand the use of technology for learning, and enriched Curricula to Address Cross-Cutting Issues and Foster Critical Thinking Towards Liberating basic Education.
To modernize education management and governance, DepEd Region III institutionalized the Quality Management System, automated Core Systems and Processes (E-Governance), improved Procurement and Finance Process, accelerated Research and Development which led to evidence-based policies and implementation guidelines, and improved Human Resource Development.
DepEd Central Luzon has likewise identified strategies for the past 6 years that would make not only the teaching, teaching-related, and non-teaching personnel, but more so school heads, focus on instructional leadership and the teaching and learning process with the use of appropriate learning modalities, including multiple distance learning modalities to improve student outcomes in light of the pandemic.
Further, in relevance to the government’s call to ensure access to quality education for all, DepEd Region III made sure that it also supported the most vulnerable students and most complex learners in schools with strategies committed to inclusivity and diversity.
These accomplishments for the past six years under your efficient and motivating leadership, Mam Secretary, do not only exhibit the united and coherent efforts made by all our officials, teaching and non-teaching personnel but these are attestations of our passion and commitment to fulfill our mandate for the benefit of all our young learners here in Region III.