But will vote based on wide array of opinions

MEMBERS of the House of Representatives on Wednesday said that although they respect the adverse position of the Department of Education (DepEd) on economic Charter change, lawmakers will still decide using a wide range of opinions, legal, economic or otherwise, when they finally both on Resolution of Both Houses No. 7.

In the regular briefing of the House, Deputy Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali “Boyet” M. Gonzales II, Taguig Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora, and 1-RIDER Partylist Rep. Rodge Gutierrez all said the insights of resource persons, including that of DepEd, is important to them when finally deciding to vote on RBH No. 7.

“We respect their position, the same manner lahat iyan, pros and cons, we respect. Iyong mga insights of the resource speakers are meant for the congressmen in making their final decision on how to vote on the matter,” Gonzales said.

“At the end of the day, basta magbobotohan diyan, whether their stands were able to influence the congressmen will be revealed later in the outcome of the voting. But as I’ve said, we respect kung ano ang position ng DepEd diyan,” he added.

Zamora said her district is home to numerous international schools, and she sees nothing wrong with the possible entry of foreign-owned schools once the Constitution allows it through an amendment.

“I hail from the second district of Taguig kung nasaan po ang BGC at napakarami naman pong international schools doon. Sinasabi nila na those schools exist because of legislation, so what makes the these foreign institutions any different? Parang kontra yata,” Zamora noted.

“Pero ginagalang natin yung opinyon nila and para ‘yun sa further na pagninilay ng mga congressman na sa dulo naman, kami din naman po ang boboto. Pero, naniniwala po ako na kung nag e-exist naman ngayon ang mga international schools dito at matagal na po silang nag-exist, wala naman pong masama na pumasok pa ang mga iba pang international schools,” she added.

The DepEd representative who acted as resource person is an Undersecretary for legal affairs and has expressed misgivings that if foreign education institutions are allowed in the country, it would affect the nationalism-centered education in the Philippines.

“Naging issue kahapon ng mga resource persons yung mawawala daw ‘yung sense of nationalism natin, pero makikita natin marami pong mga international schools na nasa Singapore, pero parang hindi naman nawawala ‘yung pagmamahal nila sa bansa nila,” Zamora explained.

“in fact, alam natin ang Singapore, talagang known sila na matatag ang kanilang paghanga at pagtingin sa kanilang bansa. So sa tingin ko, marami namang safeguards against ‘yung mga fears nung ating resource persons kahapon,” she further stated.

Gutierrez said although he respects the position of the DepEd on economic Charter change, he believes the department can control the curriculum of educational institutions, even those fully owned by foreigners.

“We do understand there will be apprehensions on the part of DepEd, on how it would play out. Kasi the question talaga po nila that we saw was that doon sa control in curriculum in relation to the mandate of DepEd,” Gutierrez said.

“But we have to remember that the mandate of DepEd on this flows from law and from the Constitution,” he added.

“So if Congress as a whole together with the Senate decide to change it, then mag-adjust naman po iyung DepEd. There will be further regular legislation to set out the parameter limits kung anong mangyayari po dito sa DepEd, which includes the control and mandate over curriculum and such,” Gutierrez said.