By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The Department of Education in Western Visayas (DepEd-6) avoided addressing questions related to ongoing issues during a press conference on Tuesday, October 15.
DepEd-6 Director Ramir Uytico, speaking at the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” (KSBP) event hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA-6), clarified that the purpose of the conference was to highlight the department’s achievements under his leadership, not to scrutinize the agency.
“Ang ibabalita ko sa inyo, resulta ito sa pagtutulong-tulongan naming lahat, nating lahat dito sa Western Visayas. So I understand that this Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas is not to roast the Department of Education,” he said before discussing the department’s accomplishments.
“This is not about grilling the DepEd. Instead, it’s a celebration of our achievements as one department, as one community in Western Visayas,” he added.
The KSBP is a communication initiative by the Presidential Communications Office, through the PIA, that aims to showcase government programs, services, projects, policies, and priority initiatives of various national agencies and departments.
It’s worth noting that a week before the press conference, PIA-6 asked local media to submit questions in advance.
This was the first time PIA-6 requested media questions ahead of time among the 21 government agencies that have participated in the PCO-initiated program.
During the three-hour press conference, media questions were focused solely on DepEd’s programs and activities.
Uytico has faced controversies since his appointment to DepEd-6 in February 2021.
One issue involved his image being featured on DepEd tarpaulins displayed at schools across the region.
In February this year, Uytico filed cyber libel charges against four Iloilo broadcasters, accusing them of defamation in their radio commentaries.
In response to these controversies, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas suggested Uytico be reassigned to another region.
“It would be better if he (Uytico) is reassigned to another region so that we can get someone else who will be more effective in taking care of the educational needs of our children,” Treñas said.
