Representing more than 50,000 non-teaching personnel of DepEd in 17 regions and 200 divisions, the DepEd-National Employees’ Union (DepEd-NEU) urged stakeholders to rally behind Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones and the Department of Education on various programs and projects for Filipino learners.

Advocating to improve the delivery of education amid the pandemic, the DepEd-NEU believes in the leadership of Secretary Briones, who is spearheading the agency’s efforts in implementing the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP).

“Napakatalino ng team eh, ni Secretary at ng paligid. Walang mayroong master nito sa pandemyang ito. Mas maiigi pa si Secretary dahil nandiyan na siya, naranasan na niya na pandemya, lalo na niya iyang mama-master next school year. Hindi talagang pu-pwedeng palitan si Secretary sa ngayon. Siya lang ang makakagawa niyan sa panahon ng pandemyang ito,” Atty. Domingo Alidon, President of DepEd-NEU, said.

He further lauded the Secretary’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and protection of employees’ welfare.

“The Secretary has programs that are really helpful and beneficial to our employees. Lalo kaming bumilib diyan dahil only Secretary, from time immemorial, in-include niya sa educational assistance the benefits of non-teaching personnel to cater to the welfare and interest of the employees of DepEd,” Alidon added.

Meanwhile, DepEd-NEU Chairperson Johnny Balawag highlighted partnership as key to enhance and improve education delivery in this time of health crisis.

“Sinasabi natin parati na we can make the impossible, possible, the unreachable, reachable, and undoable, doable with this pandemic situation. Diyan din po tayo humuhugot ng ating lakas, lalung-lalo na sa pagitan ng pagbigay ng suporta sa lahat ng adhikain ng ating kasalukuyang liderato ng ating Kagawaran, ng ating Secretary Briones,” Balawag said.

“Sa panahon ngayon, para makamit natin itong adhikain natin na education must continue, ay isang organization or union that is facilitating. We have to facilitate first before we complain, we have to look into all these programs and plans nang sa ganoon ay masabi natin na para sa atin at para sa kapakanan ng kabataan,” he added.

The DepEd-NEU noted that the Department needs all-out support from its stakeholders since there are still challenges in education due to the current public health situation.

“Tulungan natin ang ating Secretary, at kung ano pa ang maaari nating maitulong sa larangan ng edukasyon sa mga clientele natin. Mas maigi na magbayanihan tayo sa edukasyon,” Alidon said.

“Hindi lamang ito responsibilidad ng Department of Education, hindi lamang po ito responsibilidad ng mga guro at DepEd personnel. Ito rin po ay responsibilidad ng ating stakeholders kasama na riyan ang mga unions, ang mga teaching, and non-teaching organizations, pagtutulung-tulungan natin ito. Kasama diyan ang mga PTA, parents and teachers’ association,” he added. (PR)