Despite many challenges, the success of this year’s school opening was attributed by the Department of Education (DepEd) to the overwhelming support of the national community. 

In her keynote address in celebration of World Teacher’s Day on Saturday, Oct. 10, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Filipinos showed initiative in helping out whether or not the agency asked for assistance. 

How else could they have delivered their educational objectives with less resources, Briones said. It wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the community and different sectors. 

“Hindi naman lahat ng hinihingi natin puwede maibigay. Mas mahal ang mga pangangailangan tulad ng modules, magastos pa at very expensive para sa environment,” she said. 

“Kung ano man ang kulang ay tinatapalan ng mga Pilipino mismo,”she added. 

(Not everything that we ask for can be given. Our needs, such as modules, have become more expensive and costly for the environment. Whatever was lacking has been provided for by Filipinos themselves.)  

Briones said that the DepEd’s partnerships with local government especially at the barangay level was enhanced. They provided assistance outside the Special Assistance Fund (SEF) and helped in delivering food as well as modules. 

“As all of us know, the SEF is from a national tax, which is collected by the local governments. But many local governments go beyond the SEF and spend part of their budgets especially on education,” Briones said. 

She cited the efforts of teachers and those who continue to support them, local government, civil society, and the legislature, which she claims is aware of the challenges faced by the education sector.

On the first day of classes for School Year (SY) 2020-2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic on Oct. 5, Briones declared “victory” over the deadly virus.