LGU vs. Deped in Dagupan?

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

LITTLE did I know that when I was editing a news story on the new appointments of City Schools Superintendents in Dagupan City and San Carlos City, I would get wind of the bitter exchanges between some mid-ranking officials of the city schools division and Dagupan Mayor Belen Fernandez.

The drift I got was that the tandem of Mayor Belen and OIC Schools Superintendent Froserfina Bravo reportedly rocked the boat at the division when the mayor invoked the accomplishments of Bravo to justify her extension as superintendent of Dagupan.

Among her accomplishments that the mayor cited was her success in stopping corrupt practices in the division. The corruption issue stemmed from a report that some division officials directed the collection of fees from students for some sports activities in the past, a policy prohibited by DepEd.

The mayor charged that those unauthorized collections smacked of corruption.

Consequently, there have been charges and counter charges of corruption between the city hall and the schools division.

Relationships soured further when mid-ranking division officials protested Fernandez’s perceived interference and infringement on the autonomy of DepEd, particularly in the development of school facilities and sports programs for the city’s athletes.

This is truly lamentable and certainly a no-win situation for all. It’s a lose-lose proposition for the students, the career teachers and the schools division and the city government.

*          *          *          *          *

ONLY FOR STUDENTS’ WELFARE. First of all, a hostile relationship between the local government and schools division is totally unheard of.  There can be nothing more primordial than the plight, welfare and the needs of the young.

Excellent teachers, modern school facilities, secure environment, effective plans and programs are for the development of the pupils/students, never for the career advancement of school officials or political future of anyone.

Given that mantra, how can anyone suffer conflicts long the way? It can only happen when personal agenda gets in the way, and politics rear its ugly head.

So let me attempt to make sense of this brouhaha. First the basic facts:

1. The children are both the natural constituents of the city government and DepEd.
2. DepeEd has complete autonomy and control over teaching policies and adoption of teaching and learning modules.
3.  The city government is the head of the School Board for various reasons: a) The physical location of the schools are under the jurisdiction of the city. b) It commands resources that impact on the security of the schools and their activities.

*          *          *          *          *

CONTENTIOUS CLAIMS. Now let’s get into the contention issues that blew it up.

1. There is no way an unauthorized collection of fees from pupils/students for any activity can ever be justified. It’s a complete no-no as a DepEd policy.  Mayor Belen was right to question who authorized it and why. In any government office, there is a clear policy on accountability.
2. The mayor charged corrupt practices in the division. She condemned the illegal collections, not the teachers. But those who authorized the illegal collections must be made to account.
3. While the mayor never singled out the teachers as accountable for the discovered corrupt practices, some division officials bandied it as loss of trust on the teachers, or that teachers are being labeled as corrupt.

(I read Facebook postings by one Edilberto Abalos and a ‘SweetEinstein Roman’ that rallied teachers to turn     against the mayor because of their allegation that the teachers are being maligned by the city government. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Meanwhile, I found no specific reference in FB post to any statement of the mayor that found her culpable for accusing all the teachers of being dishonest. If there are, I’d be interested to know about them).

4. Abalos accused the mayor for her “sweeping statement” contra teachers but in his own post, all he did was make sweeping justifications of the actions being questioned by the mayor. It went as far as citing the sacrifices of teachers meant to imply that the teachers did not deserve the “sweeping statement.” Completely irrelevant. A charge that a corrupt practice was discovered could not mean all the employees are involved.  Such is the case in BIR, Customs, DPWH, in all government agencies for that matter.

5. I noted a political slip from ‘SweetEinstein Roman’ when it called on “Alvin Fernandez, Lina Tan, Dada Reyna-Macalanda, Emong Vallejos and Teddy True Voice” to come to their aid. They do have something in common, don’t they?

6. SweetEinstein Roman’ also took a swipe at OIC Froserfina Bravo for taking the assignment as chairperson of the Platinum Anniversary celebration of Dagupan when she knew she would be transferred soon. Traditionally, LGUs tap schools to head preparations and it is this partnership that strengthens and binds both LGUs and DePEd to stay the beneficial and harmonious relationship. What was Bravo to do when asked to take on the assignment? Refuse it? SweetEinstein Roman’s insinuation was not only totally unfair and uncalled for but irrelevant. The mayor knew it was not for her to block DepEd Bravo’s transfer but an appeal for an extension was still in order to ensure effective turnover for the management of the important city event.

7. ‘SweetEinstein Roman’ whom I’m told is actually a lady school division official, was clearly being dishonest, devoid of integrity for making unfair and baseless claims without fear of being made to account. The official hiding behind ‘SweetEinstein Roman’ ought to come forward with her unassailable facts before the public.  Till SweetEinstein Roman comes forward, all her claims can only be regarded as hearsays and a lot of bull.

8. Any program of the city government approved by the School Board cannot be interpreted as infringement on the independence of DepEd because the division’s officials are involved in the discussions of the programs.

9. The city government can and should be charged for interfering or infringing on the right of DepEd to determine its policies if the city government imposes demands that blocks, changes, amends established policies and duly approved DepEd programs. A suggestion to improve school facilities that require no funding from DepEd or any monetary resource that will prevent DepEd from accomplishing its primary mandate cannot ever be considered as interference. Further, a suggestion can always be denied for the right reasons, and the city government must accede.

10. The long standing goodwill and rapport between DepEd and the city government should be sustained by uncompromising respect for the law, a consistent fight against corruption, mutual respect for each other’s mandate, and passion for the developments of the city’s youth

Above all, appreciation of candor and frank discussions, outside of social media, will go a long, long way for the benefit of the city’s youth.

I rest my case.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments