Zambo crisis delays Tawi-Tawi training, exams for teachers, gov't staff

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - The hostilities in Zamboanga City have affected the various career program activities for public school teachers, nurses and young professionals in the island province of Tawi-Tawi, the area’s congressional representative said.

Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby Sahali, whose office is extending “profession support services” for government employees, said among their programmed activities affected by security issues were the teachers’ board review classes and this month’s supposed conduct of career eligibility exams by the Civil Service Commission for her constituents.

The office of Sahali and the provincial government are jointly funding domestic career programs for teachers and employees of other government entities in Tawi-Tawi, an island province of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Sahali has also been helping provide free teachers’ board review sessions for her constituent-public school teachers and still unemployed graduates of teaching courses.

Sahali said the October 13 CSC exams for Tawi-Tawi residents have been reset to Nov. 13, 2013 as a consequence of the conflict that rocked Zamboanga City.

Many teachers and employees of local government units in the island province also failed to leave for out-of-town work-related training activities.

“Add to that the adverse impact of the crisis to the economy of Tawi-Tawi,” Sahali said.

Sahali said Tawi-Tawi folks have been asking for the full restoration of the operations of the seaport and airport in the province to forestall the impact of prolonged limitations on flights and voyages  amid the security problems besetting Zamboanga City. - John Unson