Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte has recognized the significant role of teachers in the society.

"The dedication, courage, and professionalism of Filipino teachers cannot be compared. Strengthened by your love for the country and love for fellow Filipinos, especially among young people the foundations of your profession," Duterte said in her message during Tuesday's kickoff of this year's national teachers' month.

"Your integrity serves as a guide for young people so that they embrace the teachings and studies that you can lean on for fulfilling their dreams and achieve success in life. I salute to you, Ma'am and Sir," she added.

Duterte said she knows the hard work and sacrifices of teachers just to fulfill their responsibilities to the Filipino children.

"I know this because I come from a family of teachers. And, for my family, education is wealth," she said.

Duterte's great grandmother, Fortunata Gonzales-Roa, served as a public school teacher at the Cabadbaran South Central Elementary School in Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte for many years.

The mother of former President Rodrigo Duterte, her grandmother, Soledad Roa Duterte, was an educator herself who put up a school for Lumad children in Davao City when she was still alive.

"And, as a child, I could still remember the many times I sat at the table with my mother, Elizabeth, to check the test papers of her students in the Philippine Women's College in Davao," she said.

The DepEd chief said that teachers deserve respect and admiration for their undying dedication to guiding and helping our learners, parents, and guardians when the whole world had to shift to home learning drastically because of the pandemic.

"We saw how they worked with the barangay officials, youth leaders, local government leaders, the private sector, and our development partners to be able to deliver the modules, help facilitate community learning hubs, and provide additional learning resources to our children," she added.