The Department of Education (DepEd) has formally welcomed two new executives in the department and its attached agencies.
During the virtual oath-taking ceremonies, DepEd formally designated Dr. Malcolm S. Garma as the Assistant Secretary for the National Academy of Sports (NAS) and Field Operations and Yvonne Fuentes de Mesa as the newest member of the Governing Board of National Book Development Board (NBDB) which is one of the department’s attached agencies.
“I’m very pleased and happy to welcome our new officers of attached agencies in the Department,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said during the ceremony on Sept. 20.
“Firstly, Yvonne de Mesa, newly-appointed Governor for NBDB and of course, Malcolm ,” Briones said.
A former DepEd Regional Director of the National Capital Region and Central Luzon, Garma will assist in the managing and supervising of the Field Operations strand of the Department which consists of 16 regions, 230 schools divisions, around 47,000 public schools, and community learning centers.
“With the appointment of Assistant Secretary Malcolm S. Garma, DepEd can be assured of a vibrant, experienced, and more energetic leader in the Field Operations,” Undersecretary for Field Operations, Palarong Pambansa Secretariat, and DEACO Atty. Revsee A. Escobedo said.
Aside from the Field Operations, Garma will also facilitate and administer the NAS, which is established by virtue of Republic Act No. 11470 to help talented student-athletes pursue their academic and sports career at the same time.
Briones also highlighted the importance of sports in the physical and mental health of the student-athletes and how Filipinos show their enthusiasm for different sports disciplines.
“Filipinos have always loved sports. We adore them, we love them, and we look forward to the time when we’ll be producing what they call world-class sportspersons,” Briones said. “We are very happy to have NAS with us, as well as the strengthening of our regional operations,” she added.
Based on R.A. 11470, the NAS is mandated to “implement a quality and enhanced secondary education program, integrated with a special curriculum on sports.” As an attached agency of DepEd, the NAS aims to “offer secondary education to natural-born Filipino citizens with potential in sports” and to “design special curriculum for athletic scholars.”
The NBDB, on the other hand, was established through Republic Act No. 8047 to emphasize the importance of books in nation-building and be of assistance to the book publishing industry.