Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte did not attend the organizational meeting-initial hearing of the House Committee on Basic Education on Wednesday morning, Aug. 10.
Attending the House panel hearing instead was DepEd Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III, as well as other agency officials.
On behalf of Duterte, Densing sent the Vice President's regrets for not being able to attend the hearing, the committee's first in the 19th Congress.
"As much as she wanted to join us this morning, she had a very important meeting to attend to. It's very important. But she also sends her regards since most of the members of the committee are her close friends," Densing said.
The DepEd officials were invited to the proceedings primarily to give the House members a briefing on the department's accomplishments for school year (SY) 2021 to 2022, the plans and programs and deliverables for SY 2022 to 2023, and legislative priorities for the 19th Congress.
Twenty-one solons were present during the mixed virtual and in-person hearing, which was presided by committe chairman, Pasig lone district Rep. Roman Romulo.