NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur — Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte underscored the noble contribution of teachers in honing the minds of children and for continuing to perform their duties even during the pandemic.

“Mahalaga kayo sa bansa. Kayo ang susi sa pagbukas ng kaisipan ng ating mga mag-aaral. Nawa’y hindi kayo tumigil sa paghubog at pagkalinga sa mga kabataan,” Duterte said during the 66th Foundation Day of the Department of Education Naga City Teachers and Employees Association (DNACITEA) held in a mall here on Saturday.

“Kayo ang pangalawang liwanag na nasisilayan ng ating mga kabataan sa araw-araw na pagtuturo. Huwag sana kayong mapagod,” she added.

Duterte praised the teachers for carrying on their mandate that education must continue despite the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

“During the pandemic, your efforts and honest struggles to withstand uncertainties are priceless. We know that you have weathered through challenges, but true to your advocacy, you have chosen to thrive,” she said before hundreds of teachers and local government leaders who joined the event.

Duterte earlier visited a “last-mile school” in Sitio Lipata, Barangay Gogon in Caramoan to inaugurate the Lipata Elementary School, taking pride of new two units of one-storey building which provides schoolchildren with six conducive-to-learning classrooms.

Duterte said she saw the efforts of the teaching force to deliver education despite the lack of facilities in the area.

“Nakita ko po ang mga teachers natin doon sa Caramoan at naintindihan ko at napa-intindi nila sa akin ang hirap ng kakulangan ng mga resources natin, both infrastructure and non-infrastructure, pero ako ay nagpapasalamat pa rin dahil hindi kayo nag-gi-give-up sa pagtuturo sa ating mga kabataan,” she said.

She also vowed to keep her support for the education sector.

“As you continue to employ innovative techniques to pave way for recovery and normalcy, we walk with you. Hindi natin hahayaang masayang ang inyong mga magagandang nasimulan. Magpapatuloy tayo at mas lalo nating palalawigin ang ating mga proyekto at programa para sa mga guro at mga mag-aaral at ng teaching staff ng Department of Education,” she said.

OVP MEDIA