GMA steps into WNC nurses row

President Arroyo directed last Sunday the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) to resolve the problem on withheld nursing board exam results of West Negros College (WNC) graduates.

Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Lito Coscolluela reported to the President that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the PRC are working out a common position to solve the problem.

The presidential intervention just came in time as another group of WNC graduates informed me yesterday that they are poised to file another mandamus suit against the PRC this week with the Bacolod RTC to compel the agency to release the exam results.

This time, the WNC graduates may include PRC Regional Director Lily Ann Baldago in the suit. They contend that she violated the code of professional conduct and ethical standards of government officials and employees for remaining as a member of the board of trustees and corporate secretary of the Central Philippine University (CPU), which also operates a school of nursing.

It was not clear exactly what would be the nature of the suit which the Negros-based WNC graduates will file against the PRC and Baldago.

The President, however, said appropriate sanctions will be imposed on whoever is found to have deficiencies following the outcome of the investigation of the withheld test results of the WNC graduates.

Coscolluela went out of his way to meet with the parties involved to come up with a fact folder on the case for submission to the President.

Baldago claimed last week that it was PRC Manila that had ordered the test results withheld. PRC purportedly questioned the subject "overload" granted to some of the examinees who had been allowed to enroll for an extra 45 units.

The WNC graduates, through their spokesperson Nelia Jesusa Ligaya-Gonzales asked Judge Guiljie Delfin-Lim of the Iloilo Regional Trial Court Branch 22 to take custody of the nursing board examination papers and the answer sheets.

Actually, only 145 WNC graduates filed the suit against PRC and the Board of Nursing headed by chairman Dr. Eufemia Octaviano.

The petitioners had earlier pointed out that they had been granted their release papers by the CHED and the WNC. Besides, they said they had complied with all the requirements of the PRC, paid their examination fees and had been granted the right to take the examination. However, they were surprised why their test results were withheld because of a technical question such as subjects "overload."

Last week, even former CHED chairman Bro. Rolly Dizon said the PRC has no right to withhold the release of the test results.

He said the issue of overload can best be answered either by the WNC or the CHED.

The stand of the petitioners is that the PRC cannot rule on the issue which falls basically within CHED jurisdiction.

Dinagyang, however, had its glorious hour last Sunday. This was because no less than President Arroyo graced the event, post the concelebrated Mass at the San Jose Catholic Church where the Sto. Niño from Cebu has been enshrined. That immediately signaled the start of the climactic celebration of Dinagyang.

Panay railway rehab

When the President visits a place, there are usually major announcements about projects in the region or the locality. In the case of Panay, Mrs. Arroyo announced the forthcoming rehabilitation of the Panay railroad system. But there was a new twist to this news as the railroad will be extended from both ends to run from Caticlan, Aklan to Guimbal, Iloilo. This is intended to make the place accessible to tourists traveling to the resort island of Boracay in Aklan.

In Guimbal, hometown of former Rep. and now Agriculture Assistant Secretary Oscar Garin, the President inaugurated the P11-million Guimbal multipurpose gymnasium.

According to Mrs. Arroyo, Guimbal, which she described as the "greenest and cleanest" town in Western Visayas, should be included in the list of the best tourist destinations of the country.

The President said the Panay railway system’s rehabilitation will start this year. There are, however, existing tracks between Iloilo and Roxas City in Capiz. The railway was buil years ago by the United States government but has ceased operation due to financial losses.

It was Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin who proposed the inclusion of Guimbal in the soon-to-rise railroad extension as the municipality is located in the central part of Southern Iloilo.

The President also announced that the bidding for the P20-million Guimbal Port will start soon. This will provide residents of the Iloilo town with direct access to Negros Occidental via the Hinigaran port of Southern Negros Occidental.

There were a lot more projects announced by the President during her Dinagyang visit. But they will be discussed in another column.

Meanwhile, suffice it to say that no one was more delighted with the President’s visit than Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, head of the League of Cities of the Philippines, who was beaming all throughout the presidential sortie in the regional capital of Western Visayas.

Iloilo City bulged with visitors, drawn into the city not only by Dinagyang but also by the Candelaria Fiesta of Jaro and the start of the Chinese New Year celebration.

In short, the three-in-one celebration had attracted more visitors to Iloilo City.

Near violence in GMA’s visit

Sun Star’s Erwin Ambo Delilan reported yesterday that a near brawl between two Ilonggo members of the President’s party marred the dinner at the Tatoy’s Seafood Restaurant in Villa Arevalo District Saturday night.

The near fracas was reportedly between Assistant Agriculture Secretary Oscar Garin and Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Augusto Syjuco.

Syjuco, according to Delilan, reportedly approached Guimbal Mayor Richard Garin to inquire about where he could see his father.

Syjuco then reportedly went directly to the elder Garin who reportedly shouted in anger ‘What do you want? You want to fool me again?’

Syjuco’s wife, Rep. Judy Syjuco reportedly hit Garin in the stomach with her bag. Iloilo Vice Gov. Roberto Armada pacified the two. Later, Syjuco reportedly left the dinner.

It is common knowledge in Iloilo that Syjuco had originally encouraged Garin to run for governor against Gov. Niel Tupas. However, as the election date drew near, Syjuco withdrew his bid for re-election and fielded instead his wife Judy and shifted his support for Tupas. Garin los the election by a slight margin.

ADDENDA. Ilog Councilor Paul Regalada disclosed Sunday night that two gunmen had strafed his white Toyota Hi-Ace in Barangay Malang, Ilog, last Jan. 14. The van’s driver, Jonathan Cuenca, was hit by a bullet in the hand. Regalado, however, was not in the vehicle. The councilor said he is sure that he was the target of the two gunmen….. If traders or speculators are still holding on to their "A" (US sugar) sugar stocks, they may be gratified to hear that the price exceeded the 18 to 23 cents per pound bracket of the Department of Agriculture of the United States. It reached 18.25 cents the other day. But there are insistent voices in the US wanting additional sugar imports. And there are also those who are objecting to the additional entry of sugar. Well, the point is that if they think they can bet on prices going up further, they better have second thoughts about that. If the USDA intervenes, the price will slide down soon to back to the 18 to 23 cents bracket.