Leonor Magtolis Briones | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2016 | |
| 52ndSecretary of Education | |
| In office June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022 | |
| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Armin Luistro |
| Succeeded by | Sara Duterte |
| 21st Treasurer of the Philippines | |
| In office August 1998 – January 19, 2001 | |
| President | Joseph Estrada |
| Preceded by | Caridad Valdehuesa |
| Succeeded by | Eduardo Sergio Gonzales Edeza |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Leonor Mirasol Magtolis (1940-10-16)October 16, 1940 (age 85) |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Residence(s) | Valencia,Negros Oriental |
| Alma mater | Silliman University (BBA) University of the Philippines Diliman (MPA) Leeds University (PGDip) |
| Occupation | Economist,Professor,Politician |
| Signature |  |
Leonor "Liling"Mirasol Magtolis-Briones (Tagalog:[lɛˈnɔɾbɾiˈjonɛs]; born October 16, 1940)[1] is a Filipino academician, economist, and civil servant who served asSecretary of Education under theDuterte administration.[2] She is also professor emeritus of public administration at theNational College of Public Administration & Governance (NCPAG) of theUniversity of the Philippines Diliman and waschairman of theboard of trustees ofSilliman University inDumaguete.
She is a former Presidential Adviser for Social Development under PresidentJoseph Ejercito Estrada, with the rank of department secretary and was National Treasurer of the Philippines (head of theBureau of the Treasury) from August 1998 to February 2001.[3]
Leonor Briones was born as Leonor Mirasol Magtolis inGuihulngan, Negros Oriental on October 16, 1940. She was the daughter of Carlos Magtolis Sr., a school teacher,[4] and Ursula Mirasol.
She obtained herBachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in accounting fromSilliman University in 1958 and herMaster of Public Administration degree with a major in local government and fiscal administration from theUniversity of the Philippines Diliman in 1967.[5]
In 1968, she acquired her post-graduate diploma, with honors, atLeeds University inEngland.[6] In 1984, she proceeded to complete further studies in the United States, where she earned a certificate in Policy for Public Enterprise from theHarvard Institute for International Development atHarvard University.[5]
She received her Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa) in Public Administration fromCentral Philippine University in 2016, the sister school ofSilliman University.
Briones has served in various capacities. Her stints include teaching public fiscal administration at the University of the Philippines; and serving as secretary to theCommission on Audit for seven years, consultant to theSenate of the Philippines,Asian Development Bank and theUnited Nations Development Program, lead convenor of Social Watch Philippines, Inc.,[7] coordinator of Social Watch Asia, member of the Coordinating Committee ofSocial Watch International, chair of the board of Focus on the Global South, the first Filipino member of theClub of Rome,[6] director for Policy and Executive Development at the National College of Public Administration and Governance at theUniversity of the Philippines Diliman, and vice-president for finance in the same university.[5] Briones was also active in the private sector, serving as director of AgriNurture, Inc., an office she held since 2008 and as an independent director of Megawide Construction Corp. since July 19, 2010.[5]
She also served as chairman of theboard of trustees ofSilliman University.[8] In 2010, Briones was nominated for the Presidency of theUniversity of the Philippines[9] but fell short of getting a majority vote from the university'sBoard of Regents.[10]
On May 28, 2016, then president-electRodrigo Duterte offered Briones theSecretary of Education post,[11] which she formally accepted on June 7, 2016.[12] She took office on June 30, 2016. She oversaw the continuation of the K-12 program implementation which began in 2012, and during theCOVID-19 pandemic, shifting from physical, face-to-face classes to ablended learning approach due to travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the disease.[13] After her stint as the education secretary ended, her successor,Sara Duterte, appointed her as a consultant.[14]
Briones is an Outstanding Sillimanian Awardee in the field of Fiscal and Public Administration.[15] In 2005, she addressed theUN General Assembly where she appealed to the member-nations of theUnited Nations to fulfill their promises in fighting poverty.[16] In 2011, she was one of the few individuals who received the prestigious Bayi Citation Award for Government Service.[17]
The University of the Philippines's Board of Regents (BOR), the national university's highest policy-making body, formally conferred upon Briones in 2012 the rank of professor emeritus of public administration. Currently, she and Dr. Alex B. Brillantes, Jr., a former Dean of National College of Public Administration and Governance, are the only living professors emeritus of the College.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Caridad Valdehuesa | National Treasurer of the Philippines 1998-2001 | Succeeded by Eduardo Sergio Gonzales Edeza |
| Preceded by | Secretary of Education 2016–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Roger Mercado asSecretary of Public Works and Highways | Order of Precedence of the Philippines asSecretary of Education | Succeeded byasSecretary of Labor and Employment |
