DESIRABLE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR FILIPINOS

The Department of Education (DepEd) has emphasized the Duterte administration’s thrust of providing a desirable quality of life for Filipinos.

Based on the study of the National Economic Development Authority, (NEDA) by 2040, Filipinos will enjoy a stable and comfortable lifestyle, secure in the knowledge that we have enough for our daily needs and unexpected expenses, that we can plan and prepare for our own and our children’s future.

Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, during her keynote speech at the UP-NCPAG 65th Anniversary International Conference held recently, said families can live together in a place of our own, and we have the freedom to go where we desire, protected and enabled by a clean, efficient, and fair government.

Speaking on behalf of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the Secretary discussed the “Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay,” which is articulated in AmBisyon Natin 2040.

The Secretary also mentioned the President’s 10-point Socioeconomic Agenda and the government’s thrust, to combat the issues of poverty, corruption, and inefficiency.

On to the education sector, the Secretary narrated the Department’s own 10-point program and what the Department has done so far, including full implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the K to 12 program; enriching the K to 12 program with drug education; and reproductive health awareness and disaster preparedness.

This also includes intensification and expansion of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) because not every child has the opportunity to go to school in spite of all the efforts. Also, reduction of school dropouts which is still a problem because of poverty; enrichment of culture and arts; financial management reforms which is a deeply felt need not only in DepEd, but in other government agencies as well; the expansion of the scope of employee welfare; an active, transparent, consultative, collaborative, and corrupt-free leadership; and lastly, to continue existing cooperation with the private sector and communities.

Carrying the theme, “Public Administration in Changing Times: New Norms and Sustainable Reforms,” the conference aims to bring together scholars, researchers, and practitioners of Public Administration (PA) and other related fields in a collective analysis of new norms and sustainable reforms that challenge the performance of governments, public institutions and their governance partners all over the world. It also aims to foster the exchange of ideas about the future of governing and governance in changing times.

--oOo-The author is Teacher III at Porac Elementary School