MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd), under the leadership of Vice President and Secretary Sara Duterte, has been recognized as the most trusted government agency in the Philippines, according to the latest Octa Research Tugon ng Masa survey results released on February 22. The survey, conducted in the fourth quarter of 2023, revealed that DepEd received the highest trust rating among government agencies at 84 percent, narrowly surpassing the Commission on Higher Education, which garnered an 83 percent trust rating.
According to Philippines News Agency, the favorable outcome is a testament to the dedication and hard work of educators across the country. "As DepEd Secretary, I'm happy that our fellow Filipinos appreciate the work of our frontliners," Duterte stated during a radio interview on Monday. She credited the success to the "hardworking teachers inspiring learners" and highlighted the positive impact of the reforms being implemented under the Marcos administration to address learning gap challenges. Duterte expressed her satisfaction with the government's efforts towards building a New Philippines, emphasizing the importance of educating the youth.
In addition to the survey results, Duterte discussed the progress of the Pampaaralang Taniman ng mga Agribida (PTA) program, which aims to utilize school lands for agricultural projects. The program, established in partnership with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship Foundation Inc. in 2023, has been launched in select schools in Western Visayas and the Caraga Region. It focuses on income-generating school gardens and agricultural businesses to support parents-teachers associations and contribute to the school's maintenance and other operating expenses.
Duterte mentioned that agricultural products planted within school premises are expected to be harvested in the coming months. She pointed out that many school sites, ranging from six to eight hectares, utilize less than one hectare for educational purposes, leaving the rest as idle land. The PTA program seeks to make efficient use of these spaces for agricultural ventures.
The Department of Education's achievement in gaining the public's trust and its innovative approaches to utilizing school resources underscore the ongoing efforts to enhance the educational landscape in the Philippines.