Sara Duterte vows to end ‘palakasan’ in DepEd hiring system

Vice President Sara Duterte. | Photo from Inday Sara Duterte FB page

BACOLOD CITY — Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte announced she would end the culture of “palakasan” in the hiring system of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Speaking before 3,425 teachers and personnel of the Negros Occidental Schools Division on Friday, September 8, Duterte said this kind of system has closed doors to competent, deserving, and qualified applicants.

The automated system that the DepEd is developing, she said, will ensure an objective selection process for the hiring and promotion of personnel.

“DepEd’s vision is to provide innovative long term solutions to basic education challenges,” she said.

Duterte also reiterated plans to ease the workload of public school teachers at the celebration of National Teachers’ Month at the Panaad Sports Complex in Bacolod City.

In her speech, she announced the reduction of the teachers administrative tasks from 56 to only 11 and assured them of a 30-day straight break after a school year.

The DepEd is also working on launching a website to provide teachers legal assistance for financial loan contract problems.

“These initiatives are a testament to our understanding of your challenges and our determination to ensure you focus on what you do best, and that is, teaching,” she said.

Duterte was accompanied by Senators Imee Marcos and Francis Tolentino.

Also present during the event were Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, the mayors of Negros Occidental, Rep. Mercedes Alvarez of Negros Occidental’s 6th district, and Rep. Stephen Paduano of Abang Lingkod Party-list.

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