EXPLAINER | What's more to education secretary Sonny Angara?

From classrooms to Congress, Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara is no stranger to chalkboards and committees. 

But now, taking the role as the Philippine’s next education secretary, he has been hailed as a “much-improved choice” due to his open communications with teachers’ unions and organizations. 

Angara, a veteran lawmaker with 18 years of government experience, brings a strong legislative record to his new role. He has sponsored 330 laws, and authored over 60 laws, including the Universal Healthcare Act, the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, and the National Sports Academy Act.

Earning degrees in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (1991-1994) and law degrees from the University of the Philippines College of Law (1995-2000) and Harvard Law School (2002-2003) equips him with a strong foundation for navigating the legal complexities of the education system.

With a proven track record, can Angara bridge the education gap and make a positive impact on the Philippines’ education system? 

Politics has been a familiar territory for Angara since his youth.

Following in the footsteps of his father, the late Senate president Edgardo Angara, he has carved his own path in the political landscape.

The elder Angara served an impressive four terms in the Senate amounting to 23 years, which is the second longest tenure in the history. While Sonny acknowledges his place within a political dynasty, he emphasizes the importance of individual merit. 

“I think we are a political dynasty,” he stated, “pero ang difference yung sa amin is may legacy po kami.” 

He still stressed that voters should choose candidates based on their qualifications, not simply family ties.

Angara’s political journey began by succeeding his aunt, Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, as congressman for Aurora province. He served in the position for nine years, which started in 2004 and ended in 2013.

After being a congressman, he proceeded to be elected as a senator in the same year his term ended. 

He was also the President of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) in 2018, the political party founded by his father, and he aimed to continue his father's achievements. 

Prior to the 2022 Presidential Elections, Angara was also open to being an ally of Sara Duterte as her running mate if she ran for the presidency, saying, “it would be a great honor if we were to be even considered as VP material.'

He is also a member of the Senate's independent bloc ‘Solid 7’ alongside Senators Migz Zubiri, Nancy Binay, Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, JV Ejercito, and Sherwin Gatchalian.

Alongside his advocacies are his efforts and actions to bring them into reality through his power and authority to author and propose laws. 

Following his father’s authorization of the Free High School Law (RA 6655), Angara authored the Free College Law (RA 10931) and Free Kindergarten Law (RA 10157).

The enhanced basic education (K to 12) program is one of his most significant efforts that impacted many schools, students, teachers, and parents. 

Before being signed into law and being implemented, Angara’s K to 12 program was already scrutinized by pointing out that the government lacked preparations for it and would eventually lead to shortage in classrooms, teachers, learning materials, and other resources. Then Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino emphasized that “If we implement the K-12 without bridging the gaps in the education sector, K to 12 will only worsen the current education crisis.”

After more than a decade of the implementation of Angara’s K to 12 program, challenges in its effectiveness still remain. Alliance of Concerned Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro declared that "We urge the new secretary to face the challenges and problems of the K-12 program head on and overhaul the system. The program has been fraught with issues since its implementation, and it's high time for a comprehensive review and necessary reforms."

He acknowledges that the program failed to meet certain goals such as provision of job opportunities for K to 12 graduates saying admitting that  “'Yung pinangako na makakakuha na ng trabaho ‘yung ating mga K-12 graduates, parang hindi pa nagiging reyalidad.”

However, he remains firm in continuing the K to 12 program saying that “'Yung K to 12, batas ho 'yan eh. So habang nandyan ang batas, obligado ho kaming sundan itong K to 12 na 12 years ang curriculum, tapos may Kindergarten hanggang Grade 12,” in an interview with Unang Balita.

In helping ensure the healthcare of many struggling Filipinos, he pushed for the Universal Health Care Act (RA 11223), which provides accessible opportunities for free medical services. 

He also shed light on health and wellness aspects that are usually overlooked, he created laws on rare diseases and mental health. He authored the Rare Diseases Act (RA 10747), which entitles disease patients to benefits such as discounts while making mental health care affordable and accessible through the Mental Health Law (RA 11036). He also established a comprehensive health and nutrition program for mothers and infants through the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act (RA 11148).  

To promote Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), he sponsored laws providing more OFW benefits and services, ensuring jobs and livelihoods for displaced OFWs (RA 10801), tax-free balikbayan boxes (RA10863), and protecting seafarers and their families from abuse (RA 10706). 

To provide employment and a more excellent salary, he sponsored laws that reduced the income tax and tax on exceptional salary pay such as 13th-month pay and other bonuses (RA 10963 or more commonly known as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law), promoted jobs that protect the environment (RA 10771), and provided benefits and social protection to domestic workers (10361). He also sponsored the Expanded PESO law (RA 10691), Expanded SPES Law (RA 9547) and JobStart Law (RA 10869).

Despite efforts to increase the take-home income of workers by reducing income tax and exempting those who earned P250,000 and below, the TRAIN law was criticized for implementing an increase in fuel prices that led to inflation of consumer goods and affiliated with him as he sponsored and steered through the Senate as he was the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

He denied this when he filed for candidacy as Senator in 2018 and prescribed remedies to lessen the impact of the tax reform law he sponsored under the administration of Duterte, recommending that “Sana ‘yon kung ma-implement, makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan.”

In empowering social justice, he expanded the law that provided discount to senior citizens and PWDs (RA 9994), authored the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710) and Integrated History Act (RA 10908) that fostered peace and understanding through the incorporation of Filipino-Muslim and indigenous peoples’ history, culture, and identity.

As the Chairman of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, he also has laws that focus on sports development that was done through sponsoring the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Law (RA 10699), creating the Philippine Sports Training Center, and establishment of training centers.

He also heads the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 Subcommittee, Constitutional Amendments, and Revision of Codes Committee, which deals with the economic provisions of Charter Change. 

He supported the economic charter change and hoped to convince the public to support it as he asserted that it would be beneficial. In urging the creation of specific rules regarding foreign investments, he believes that it should be integrated into the constitution rather than regular laws, stating that “'Yung batas napapalitan, napag-aaralan, mas mabilis palitan. Eh pag nasa Saligang Batas, parang mahirap palitan.”

With divided support on charter change, he believed there must be a detailed discussion diverted from its political implications on charter change to reveal economic arguments and points to it stating in an ambush interview in February that “I think it’s good to go through the exercise (discussions on economic charter change) kasi first time ito napag-uusapan na detalyado. Lagi ang usapin nakasentro sa politikal na probisyon, ‘yung dapat ba na parliamentary system. Sa akin maganda ito para sa ating mga kababayan dahil naririnig nila ‘yung mga argumento, nakapag-isip din sila at sana makapag-debate din sila among themselves.”

He also highlighted that the Philippines has restrictive provisions on foreign investments in public utilities compared to 18 involved countries in a study by the Senate Economic Planning Office.

Angara also remained firm in following the procedures and schedule set for the resolution of both houses in adopting amendments to the Constitution and refused to make any changes. 

He suggested making the plebiscite on the constitutional amendments precede the 2025 national elections. 

 

Beyond his focus on his advocacies, he also led various committees in Congress in multiple fields. 

For the 16th Congress, he was the chairperson for the Ways and Means Committee, Games, Amusement, and Sports Committee; Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development Committee. He was also the Vice Chairperson for Science and Technology Committee, Tourism Committee, and Foreign Relations Committee. 

For the 17th Congress, he was the chairperson for the Local Governance Committee while being a Vice Chairperson for Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development Committee;  Education, Arts and Culture Committee; Sports Committee; Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations Committee; Finance Committee. 

As for the 18th Congress, he became the Finance Committee and Youth Committee Chairperson. He was the Vice Chairperson for the Ways and Means Committee;  Banks, Financial Institutions, and Currents Committee; Economic Affairs Committee; Public Works Committee. 

For the current 19th Congress, he is the Commissioner for the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2). He is also the Chairperson for Justice and Human Rights Committee, FInance Committee, and Youth Committee. Apart from these, he is still the Vice Chairperson of the Banks, Financial institutions, and Currencies Committee; Economic Affairs Committee; and Ways and Means Committee.

As the chairman of the Finance Committee, he was responsible for the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act during the COVID-19 pandemic, The National COVID-19 Vaccination Program, and the Health Emergency Allowance for Health Workers Law.  

As Chair of the Committee on Youth, he empowered the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Reform that granted honoraria to SK members, secretaries, and treasurers. 

Due to his appointment as the Secretary of Education, his Senate seat was left vacant. His term in the Senate was supposed to end in less than a year as stated by Senate President Escudero. 

Because of this, Escudero asserts that there is no need to replace Angara’s empty seat in the Senate.

Before being appointed as Education Secretary, Angara was already on his second consecutive six-year term as senator, which means that he supposedly reached his maximum limit of terms for reelection. 

Before the interruption of his term in the Senate, he would need to take a break to be permitted to run for his third term in the Senate. Since he was not able to fully complete his term due to his new duty, he is eligible to run for another term in the Senate without having to take a hiatus.