HERE'S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SENATOR SONNY ANGARA, THE NEXT EDUCATION SECRETARY

Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara has been a high-profile legislator for two decades and counting. Now, he is set to embark on a new role as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Angara’s appointment comes on the heels of controversies hounding the "UniTeam" between President Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte. Recently, Duterte made headlines for opting out of Marcos’ Cabinet while remaining tight-lipped about the reason. Angara officially replaces her as DepEd chief on July 19, the last working day before the President delivers his third State of the Nation Address (SONA).

ALSO READ

Some DepEd Modules Have Reportedly Rebranded Martial Law Years as the 'New Society' Period

Sara Duterte to Keep Living in Davao City During Vice Presidency

With the ball now in Angara’s court, some of you may be asking: is the senator qualified to take the helm of DepEd? Esquire Philippines breaks down his background and achievements in and outside of politics.

Who is Senator Sonny Angara?

Angara, a lawyer, was born on July 15, 1972 in Manila. He is the son and namesake of the late former Senate President Edgardo Angara—who served in the Upper House from 1987 to 1995 and 2001 to 2013, and held various other Cabinet positions. 

The current senator earned his undergraduate degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics in 1994. He finished his law degree at the University of the Philippines in 2000, and obtained his Masters of Laws from Harvard Law School in 2003. On the sidelines, Angara teaches Law as a professor and contributes to newspapers as a columnist.

Outside work, he is a husband to ABS-CBN executive "Tootsy" Echauz-Angara and a father to three children.

A ‘Late Bloomer’ in Politics

Entering politics wasn’t originally part of Angara’s plan. While his father never forced him to run, the senator, in an interview with Inquirer, said he still found himself following his namesake’s footsteps. This was sparked mainly by his interest in political histories. 

Regardless of how long he has been in Congress, Angara still recalls how "pressured" he was when he first ran and won a seat at the House of Representatives in 2004. He regards himself as a "late bloomer" in politics, but one who is "hardworking, productive, creative, imaginative, and a good decision-maker."

Angara's Experience and Track Record

Since he was elected congressman of Aurora province 20 years ago, Angara consecutively held the position until 2013. He was already an advocate for education and welfare of the Filipino youth at the time. The former lawmaker co-authored the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 or the K to 12 program in the lower chamber.

He became senator in the same year he left the House of Representatives, continuing his commitment to champion education in the Philippines. Among the landmark legislations he authored with regard to the sector are the Free Kindergarten Law and the Free College Law. Simultaneously, Angara serves as the commissioner of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II)—created to assess problems in the country’s education system and recommend legislative solutions.

Angara currently leads the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights as chairperson. He is also known for his financial expertise, previously helming the Committee on Finance, which helps determine the yearly national budget. 

To date, the senator has authored more than 300 bills over the past two decades.

What happens to Angara’s Senate seat once he becomes DepEd secretary?

Angara’s current term as senator—set to expire in 2025—is already his second after his stint from 2013 to 2016. This means he is no longer allowed to vie for re-election in next year’s polls. With his appointment into the Marcos cabinet, Angara is expected to serve in government at least until 2028.

Marcos, as quoted by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), said Angara "has agreed to take on the brief" of the DepEd. The senator expressed his gratitude to the President for picking him for the position.

"This significant responsibility is one I accept with humility and a profound sense of duty," said Angara. "I am committed to working with all sectors of society, including my predecessor, Vice President Duterte, to ensure that every Filipino child has access to quality education."

According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Angara’s seat in the Senate will remain vacant until 2025, unless Congress calls for a special election to fill his spot.

"Depende po sa leadership ng Senado kung magpapatawag sila ng special election o pababayaan po nila na vacant na lamang ‘yung posisyon hanggang sa matapos ‘yung term sa June 30, 2025 (It depends on the Senate leadership if they will call for a special election or just leave the position vacant until the end of the term on June 30, 2025)," Comelec Chairman George Garcia told reporters.

Senate President Chiz Escudero earlier said they are not looking at holding a special election since Angara’s term is ending soon. Plus, it will only "incur [costs]."

"I think we’ll just wait for his term to expire. There will only be 23 sitting senators," Escudero said in an interview.

The senate president says he was among the first to recommend Angara to take charge of DepEd, "given his competence, track record, [and] experience." A number of lawmakers and education experts also earlier endorsed the senator, including the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) and the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA), noting the "impact" of his policies on education, as well as the economy.

"We acknowledge the significance of emphasizing competence over political considerations in this appointment," PBEd said in a statement. "With this foundation in place, [Sen.] Angara is expected to use his political [savviness] to navigate legislative processes, build partnerships, and secure resources and support for learners and teachers."

For his part, Angara looks forward to building upon Duterte’s "accomplishments." But, in reality, the senator is taking over a department marred by various problems—ultimately inheriting an education crisis. A report from the World Bank earlier showed 9 in 10 Filipino students are performing very poorly compared to other countries. Duterte is also leaving DepEd without even fulfilling her promise of reviewing the K to 12 curriculum, which the public wants scrapped. And these are all just the tip of the iceberg.

The Philippines' education sector can only hope Angara will be able to turn the tables.

2024-07-02T12:15:50Z dg43tfdfdgfd