Teachers, parents rally in Pateros for ouster of DepEd exec

More than a thousand teachers and parents of elementary and high school students in the Taguig-Pateros district marched to the Pateros Elementary School yesterday, calling for the ouster of Department of Education (DepEd) Division Superintendent Rolando Magno.

The rallyists, who have been complaining against Magno’s alleged "improper release of funds," gathered at different converging points as early as 5 a.m. and marched with placards to his office at the school.

Dr. Evangeline Ladines, president of the Philippine Elementary School Principal’s Association Taguig-Pateros chapter, cited Magno’s abused discretion on the disbursement of funds for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) as the main reason for the protest.

Ladines also presented a letter to Department of Education Secretary Florencio Abad signed by all 56 school principals, supervisors, heads, master teachers and personnel, pleading for the removal of Magno from his post.

"We plead that the honorable secretary remove him from this division. No amount of reconciliation could repair the damage he has caused us," the letter stated.

School officials argued that it is necessary for Magno to step down because they no longer have trust and confidence in him due to his "unfair practice on assignment of principals, and inconsistencies in his decisions and policies."

They also questioned the appointment of Magno last year when he neither applied nor was nominated for the position.

They also claimed, in a statement, that a background check on the official revealed that he allegedly had charges of malversation of funds in Parañaque City where he was formerly assigned.

"To pacify the teachers and other complainants in Parañaque, he was transferred to our division," they noted.

It was earlier reported that schools in the district faced losing electricity and water supply due to improper release of funds for paying bills.

Ladines earlier accused Magno of violating a DepEd memorandum on the release of MOOE funds.

Under the memorandum, school division superintendents are given full discretion in distribution of the funds, but principals are likewise allowed to demand for their share of operating expenses, which cover payment of electric and water bills.

"There is definitely an abuse in the discretion of Dr. Magno on the disbursement of our MOOE funds," Ladines said.

She said DepEd allocated P6.7 million for all 28 schools in Taguig-Pateros this year, which should be released on July 1.

Fe Ochoa, principal of the Tenement Elementary School, also complained about the insufficient allocation for service training in their school.

She lamented that they are forced to shoulder expenses for service training because only five percent of their budget has been allocated to the program.

"Kulang kami sa mesa. Yung ibang schools ibinibili ni Dr. Magno ng mesa kahit di naman kailangan. We are principals are in the best position to know what our schools need, but he always refuses to listen to us," she complained.

Some P6.5 million in MOOE funds were released last year for the school division, but the city government still shouldered the bills payment for all schools through its Local School Board’s Special Education Fund.

The city government also said that it would no longer shoulder the electric and water expenses to give principals full responsibility on handling funds.