The Senate on Tuesday, July 30, adopted a resolution commending former senator and now Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero led the Upper Chamber in hailing Angara’s appointment as the new chief of the Department of Education (DepEd).

“No other job in the government today is tougher—or indeed, more thankless—than being our nation’s teacher-in-chief. And no other mandate has a greater stake in charting our nation’s future,” Escudero said in his sponsorship speech for Senate Resolution No. 1070. 

Senate Resolution No. 1070 was authored by Senators Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Maria Lourdes “Nancy” Binay, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Loren Legarda and Joel Villanueva, or the so-called “Solid Seven.” Before adopting the resolution, all senators were made co-authors of the measure. 

“Giving Sen. Sonny the departure honors which he deserves is the least we can do. Especially since he will serve four years of hard labor,” the Senate leader stressed.

Escudero said Angara’s education advocacy, and his work as head of the Senate finance and ways and means panel, have given him a commanding vista of the country’s entire educational landscape.

Zubiri, former Senate president said Angara “perfectly embodied” former Senate President Edgardo J. Angara’s belief on the new generation of young and vibrant legislators who will inject vitality to governance and propound fresh ideas to address the country’s major challenges. 

“And who else should more perfectly embody the promise of the great Senator Ed Angara’s words than his very own flesh and blood, Sen. Sonny Angara?” Zubiri said in his sponsorship speech. 

“While we in the Senate are sure to feel his absence throughout the rest of the 19^th Congress, we are also very proud to see him take on the enormous taks of heading the DepEd at this crucial time for Filipino learners,” the lawmaker further said. 

“As a senator, he has been competent in the heat of crisis and brilliant in the face of difficulty. So I have every faith that as Secretary of Education, he will be able to untangle the problems besetting the sector. And I know that like Tito Ed, Secretary Sonny carries every Filipino learner in his heart, and he will do everything to give them a fair shot at succeeding in life,” added Zubiri.

Villanueva also said he can vouch for Angara’s competence to lead the education sector as he “is the best man for the job.”

“He knows the sector like the back of his hand for quality education has been one of his biggest advocacies as a public servant,” Villanueva said.

Legarda said she is also confident that Angara’s dedication in the Senate will mirror his work in DepEd—“always striving for excellence and pushing boundaries.”

“His vision, competence, and efficiency will undoubtedly drive meaningful reforms in our education system,” she said. 

Gatchalian also said Angara has shown skill and honesty in his tenure as a legislator for a long time, and as a champion of education, he promoted laws that promote the welfare of our students.

"As chairperson of the Committee on Basic Education in the Senate, I know that my office's relationship with DepEd will deepen, especially now that Secretary Angara is sitting because we have already started many reforms when it comes to the education sector, and now we will continue the work we started,” Gatchalian said.

Ejercito said he has full confidence that Angara will champion policies “that will propel our education system forward.”

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino then proceeded to suspend the rules to allow Angara deliver his speech and express his gratitude to all his former colleagues for wishing him well in his next endeavor.

Angara vowed to do his best in carrying out the major reforms needed by the country’s education sector.