This representation is happy to add my voice to the chorus of support on the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of an esteemed colleague, fellow basketball afficionado, and seatmate here in the Senate session hall, Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara as Education Secretary.
Indeed, he is a great loss to the Senate. Nalagasan po kami sa Senado ng isang magaling, masipag at mabuting kasamahang mambabatas. Gayunpaman, alam nating marami siyang magandang magagawa sa sektor ng ating lipunan na nangangailangan ng lider na may hindi matatawarang husay, malalim na kaalaman sa mga isyung kinakaharap nito, at malasakit sa ating mga mag-aaral at mga guro.
He is a long-time advocate of quality and accessible education for all. If I may refresh his memory, and place before the records of this chamber, Sen. Angara’s very first bill filed as a newly-elected Senator during the 16th Congress was the Unified Student Finance Assistance System for Higher and Technical Education bill, which later became Republic Act No. 10687 or the UniFAST Act.
His subsequent 10 priority bills as a neophyte Senator were all related to education:
Since then, we saw him shepherd and steer the passage of numerous landmark education laws. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, many years and pounds ago, pagpapabuti ng kalidad ng edukasyon at pagkakaroon ng mahusay na pagsasanay ng mga kabataan ang nasa puso ni Sen. Sonny. I am eager to witness his transition from being a lawmaker to being a law implementer – from Sen to Sec – and how he would realize his vision of a better learning environment for the Filipino youth.
The task ahead of him is nothing short of daunting. But rest assured that his friends and former colleagues in both houses of Congress will support him all the way.
Congratulations Secretary Angara!