Mayor Belen warns of validity of teachers’ appointments
A VISIBLY annoyed Mayor Belen T. Fernandez minced no words when she warned Schools Division Superintendent Gloria Torres and newly promoted officials of the possibility that the promotions can be questioned for failing to observe the process prescribed by law.
The mayor issued the warning during a special meeting of the Local School Board (LSB) that she, as chairperson of LSB, convened to discuss mong others the promotion of some division personnel by Torres without consulting the LSB.
Ms. Fernandez raised the issue during the LSB board meeting citing her receipt of a letter from one Jacquiline Fernandez (no relation to the mayor) that reads: “This is to furnish a copy of a complaint against Ma. Linda Ventenilla, Principal 4, and Joy Ubando Ceralde, Head Teacher IV of Bonuan Boquig National High School filed at the Civil Service Commission, San Fernando City”.
Ms. Fernandez cited Section 99 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code, that requires consultation on all personnel to be promoted from Principal 1 to higher position of the Department of Education with LSB prior to assumption of office.
“I will soon be two years as mayor in July this year but I’ve never been informed of any promotion or appointment nor a discussion about it in our board meetings,” Fernandez intoned.
She recalled that when Dr. Alma Ruby Torio was the schools division superintendent, she always informed then Mayor Benjamin Lim of the list of school officials selected for promotion in compliance to Section 99 of RA 7160, insinuating that she never received the same courtesy from Torres.
The mayor also cited Section 1, Rule VII, Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 40-S-1998 which states that “one of the responsibilities of the Human Resources Management Officer/Personnel Officer is “to review thoroughly and check the compliance of all the requirements and supporting papers in connection with all cases of appointments before submission to the Commission”.
In making her case, the mayor cited the Natividad Bayubay vs. Schools Division Superintendent of Kalinga, Apayao case wherein the CSC in a resolution dated Oct. 15, 2002 stated: “Appeal from the decision of the CSC by Emilia P. Bayubay, Schools Division Superintendent. . . on the ground that there was no prior consultation with the Local School Board.”
“So, I just want to set the record straight, sundin natin ang batas. . . kung ano ang tama“, Ms. Fernandez intoned.
In an attempt to justify the promotion, however, Assistant Schools Division Supt. Lourdes Servito, as chair of the Personnel Selection Board (PSB), pointed out that the basis of the promotion of personnel was the division’s performance management system.
“We used different tools in the performance appraisal last year and this school year 2014-2015,” said Servito but did not mention Section 99 of RA 7160 as part of the whole process.
The mayor said that as LSB chairperson, she will pursue a resolution on the issue in order to stop the present school division’s policy choosing to bypass the LSB in violation of the established rules.
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