DepEd says Duterte, the only authority that can allow OVP's learning hub program

On Friday, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that the agency has no authority to stop the Office of Vice President Leni Robredo from implementing its community learning hub program. 

Vice President Leni Robredo's office earlier this week released a letter from DepEd calling the learning hubs a good initiative. The hubs provide assistance to students with volunteer tutors and access to computers, printers, other gadgets, and free internet connection. 

But Education Secretary Leonor Briones said her agency did not give any commitment for the said project because President Duterte had barred face-to-face learning. Also, she said that there seems to have been a miscommunication as there is no phrase or word in the letter authorizing the OVP's program to proceed. 

Briones insisted that the department has no partnership with the Office of Vice President. 

She also added that DepEd has no authority to impose any punishment on the OVP because it is not in the mandate of the Department of Education and suggested that maybe another government [agency] should look into that it. 

Ang DepEd wala namang authority, kasi ang authority na dyan tungkol sa face-to-face learning ay nasa Presidente,

Briones said in a televised briefing when asked if DepEd will stop the operation of the learning hubs. 

Meanwhile, the OVP gave assurance that minimum health requirements will be observed in its learning hubs. It also noted that the learning hubs are not classrooms with regular in-person classes, but only an area where students can get an access to gadgets and the internet in light of the distance learning being implemented.