Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – One of the first things Vice President Jejomar Binay will do if he wins the 2016 presidential elections is to appoint Home Mutual Development Fund (Pag-IBIG) President Darlene Berberabe in his cabinet.
He wants Berberabe to be the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), he said at the foundation day celebration of Naguilian National High School in La Union on Friday (March 11).
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In a presidential form of government the Philippines has, the president has the power to appoint cabinet members. He also has the power to remove them in office.
Binay worked closely with Berberabe in Pag-IBIG when he served as the housing czar for five years.
He said Berberabe has introduced a number of measures that helped improve the fund’s services since her term started in November 2010.
He also boasted of Berberabe’s outstanding student record.
Berberabe graduated Summa Cum Laude at the University of the Philippines (UP) with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. She also graduated salutatorian at the UP College of Law in 1999.
Berberabe graduated valedictorian from elementary up to high school, Binay told the students.
“Ang gusto ko ang cabinet member ko ay may success stories na, wala nang learning curve. At ito ho ay kailangan sa deped, magkaroon tayo ng isang secretary na may executive ability. Marunong ho mamahala,” he said.
[Translation: “What I want for my cabinet member is someone who has success stories already, no more learning curve. This is what Deped needs – to have a secretary with executive ability, who can manage well.”]
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CNN Philippines’ Joyce Ilas contributed to this report.
