Luistro, Briones begin DepEd transition talks

Outgoing Education Secretary Armin Luistro has met with his successor, former national treasurer Leonor Briones, to begin transition talks in the department.

“I passed on an advanced copy of my end-term report and a set of articles on DepEd programs assessed by independent groups,” Luistro said yesterday when asked about the meeting late Wednesday night.

“I presented our transition team organization and proposed timetable of meetings between the outgoing and incoming teams. I also gave her our proposed program for the transition rites on July 1,” he added.

Earlier, Luistro welcomed the appointment of Briones as his successor in DepEd.

“We are pleased to learn of the appointment of professor Briones to the post of DepEd secretary. She brings with her a wealth of experience in public finance and administration which would be beneficial to DepEd, being the agency with the largest budget,” said Luistro in a statement.

“We also know that education is one of her top advocacies and she considers it her lifelong mission, especially for the last mile learners,” he added.

A member of the Cabinet of former president Joseph Estrada, Briones is a professor emeritus at the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance.

She also serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Silliman University and the chairman-designate of the Board of Regents of the Universidad de Manila, aside from being the convenor of Social Watch, a budget and anti-corruption watchdog.

The outgoing DepEd chief expressed hope that his successor would continue to build on the reforms that they have introduced in the past six years, including the K-12 program.

“DepEd worked hard for the past six years and we hope that the trust which the president-elect gave to professor Briones would further aid in addressing the continuing challenges in the department, especially as we implement the senior high school program this year,” he said.

Briones has expressed support for the K-12 program, but she also recognized the concerns of its critics, particularly the parents whom she said would have to shell out for the additional two years in basic education.