MANILA – Malacañang on Sunday thanked Filipinos for the continuous support and trust given to outgoing Davao City Mayor and Vice President-elect Sara Duterte.

Acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar made this remark just hours before the inauguration of Sara as the country’s 15th vice president.

“We are one with the whole Filipino nation in witnessing with excitement the inauguration ceremony of outgoing Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio as the 15th Vice President of the Philippines,” acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said in a press statement.

He also renewed his call for Filipinos to unite and rally behind Sara and other newly-elected leaders to ensure the country’s success.

“As we previously articulated, let us stand behind Vice President-elect Duterte-Carpio and all other newly elected leaders as they embark on the responsibilities and challenges of their offices and fulfill their mandate of delivering genuine change to our beloved country,” he added.

In a separate statement, the Department of Education (DepEd) expressed enthusiasm in welcoming Sara to the DepEd as incoming Education Secretary.

Sara announced on May 11 that she has accepted the offer to become Education secretary under the incoming administration of Marcos Jr.

“Outgoing Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones and her team are eager to assist the Vice President in ensuring a smooth transition of priority education programs and policies, including the Basic Education Development Plan (BEDP) 2030, which can help the incoming administration in implementing further reforms,” the DepEd said in a statement.

The DepEd also called on stakeholders, including teachers, non-teaching personnel, field officials, parents, and partners, to “unite and collaborate anew under the leadership of VP Sara, for the benefit of the Filipino children.”

Sara earlier said she is pushing to produce “skilled learners” in the country with the mindset to realize their full potential as individuals.

The country, she said, needs “a future generation of patriotic Filipinos that advocate peace and discipline in their respective communities.”

On May 25, Congress, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, declared Duterte and President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. winner of the May 9 presidential and vice presidential elections.

Sara is set to hold her inauguration in her family’s bailiwick, Davao City, on Sunday while Marcos will be inaugurated as the country’s 17th President on June 30 at the National Museum in Manila.

The inaugural of Duterte will kick off at 3 p.m. with a concelebrated Holy Mass at the San Pedro Cathedral.

Oath-taking rites will be held at the San Pedro Square.

Sara will be sworn into office as the 15th vice president of the Philippines by Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando.

The First Family, led by President Duterte, will be there to witness another family member take on another important national post.

Sara’s running mate, Marcos Jr. will also be attending the inauguration. (PNA)