'Positive feedback': House leader congratulates Duterte on return of face-to-face classes
House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co took the opportunity Wednesday, Sept. 14 to personally congratulate Vice President Sara Duterte for what he described as the tsuccessful resumption of face-to-face classes.

“So far, we have received positive feedback from the ground and I hope it continues to be so for the sake of our students," Co said during the consideration of the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) proposed budget for next year.
"We expected nothing less than this type of strong leadership from the VP," added the Bicolano.
The recent reopening of classes last month marked the first time since the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 that pupils physically returned to their classrooms. Duterte is the concurrent Department of Education (DepEd) secretary.
“This is why we are confident that under your helm. DepEd will build upon the legacy of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Under the proposed budget, we will continue to allocate funding for the Basic Education Development Plan 2030, the alternative learning system, the Last Mile School, the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan, and other projects,” he added, listing key DepEd programs," Co said.
He said the pandemic has upended the educational system and needs to adapt and transform to be able to thrive in the new normal.
“We must do more. We must help our students catch up after the two-year pandemic. We must help our communities build better and more school facilities that are disaster-resilient especially after the recent earthquake in Luzon. And we must show gratitude to our teachers by giving them adequate compensation at the very least,” he said.
The appropriations panel head had more good things to say about the Vice President, who, after the swift termination of the OVP budget hearing Wednesday morning graciously stayed to answer solons' questions, this time about the proposed budget of DepEd.
“I speak for everyone here when I say that you will succeed. The President could not have picked a more capable person for this tall order and the DepEd surely feels proud to have you. As for Congress, you can always be assured of our support,” Co said.