Q: DepEd Secretary, sir?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: It turns out, it’s harder than I thought because we have to absolutely get it right. So, I’m giving myself more time.
Q: Sir, what makes it very hard for you?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: As I told you before, we have to see really what the DepEd needs. Of course, there are many calls for the new secretary to be an educator. There are many calls for the new secretary to be an administrator. There are new calls to be historical professor. All of these and they are all valid concern. That’s what education is all about.
And that is why… And I’ve gone through so many CVs, marami tayong magagaling. It’s the one — we have to choose somebody who has an understanding of what is important in terms of being an educator but then we also have to find — the same person also has to have those qualities that they can galvanize this very, very large bureaucracy which is the DepEd and to achieve all of those gains or all of those changes to make the educational standard better.
Ang lagi naman natin tinitingnan ang mga test score natin. We have to bring up the test scores. You all know that. So, you need an educator who understands how to help the students, how to help the teachers, number one.
So, there are many people who understand that who are experts really in the educational sector. But then how do you achieve that? That requires a very good hand on the pillar of the DepEd who can manage it properly, who understands the bureaucracy, who understands how to use the budget properly.
All of these things. Yun ang mga — mahirap ang trabaho ng DepEd kaya I can — that’s why we have to thank Inday Sara for really the effort that she put in.
There’s a great deal more of work to be done and we’ll find the right person to do it.
Q: Mr. President…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: I’m sorry.
Q: Shortlist? Ilan ang nasa shortlist?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: I’m not going to let you tie me down to anything. We are looking at everyone. We are looking at everyone…
We don’t make a shortlist. Every time somebody give — every time I… I know people myself na sa palagay ko kaya nila ‘yung trabaho and many people come to me and say why don’t you think about this fellow, why don’t you think about this — the maestra. Why don’t you… So, we look at them all. We have to…
Q: Ibig sabihin Mr. President, nahihirapan ka pumili? Nahihirapan ka pumili doon sa mga…?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Iyon na nga. Sa madaling sabi, oo nahihirapan ako pumili dahil napakakumplikado ng trabaho ng DepEd. Okay.
Q: Thank you, sir.
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