Appointment of 2 Pangasinan school heads hit

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The provincial board wants the Department of Education (DepEd) to ask Congress to settle the row on the appointment of two schools’ division superintendents in Pangasinan.

Under Republic Act 9155, there should be only one schools’ division superintendent in a province, except in big cities.

During the board’s question hour last Friday, fourth district board member John Agerico Rosario Jr. raised this issue to Dr. Vilma Labrador, DepEd regional director.

Rosario inquired about the status of Juliana Laoag and Erlinda Nava, schools’ division superintendents for Pangasinan 1 and 2, respectively.

"Who am I to question this?" asked Labrador, saying she has been DepEd regional director for only three months.

She added though that she could discuss the matter some other time by inviting the local legislators to discuss the wisdom of such an arrangement.

She said the education department divided not the Pangasinan schools’ division but only the management aspect.

"The truism of life is, the smaller the unit, the better it could be managed," she said.

Fifth district board member Dionisio Villar Jr. asked Labrador what should be done to settle this controversy as the budget of one division is being divided into two because of such an arrangement.

Labrador said she would bring up the matter to the DepEd central office and leave it up to the higher authorities to decide on what ought to be done, adding that they should have a reason for such a scheme.

The Department of Budget and Management listed Laoag, whose office is based in Binalonan town, as the schools’ division superintendent for the fourth, fifth and sixth districts.

Nava, on the other hand, carried her item as schools’ division superintendent of Dagupan City when she took over the helm of Pangasinan 1, which serves the first, second and third districts. She is based in Lingayen town.

This deprives Dagupan City of the services of a full-time superintendent, Rosario said.

Rosario said the provincial board members are themselves divided on the issue.

"Many say it’s better to have two divisions, but others believe the administration of the public school system is easily handled by only one division and this would save the national government of (much-needed funds)," Rosario said.

If there is only one schools’ division, he said Pangasinan could better compete in sports tournaments as it could have a bigger pool of talents and could easily coordinate with the provincial government.

"This must be settled. I hope this arrangement must be formalized," he said.

He said a national legislation would resolve the matter. — Eva Visperas