‘PURE BALONEY’: City college head denies mismanagement yarn
- TBN News
- Aug 21, 2018
- 3 min read
SWEEPING statements. Blatant lies. False accusations.
This is how the administrator of the Iloilo City Community College (ICCC), Maria Mathilde Treñas-Octavio, responded to allegations by four teachers relative to the management and operation of the City Hall-run school.
Both parties faced the City Council during a hearing in aid of legislation on Aug 20, 2018 at the Session Hall on the alleged mismanagement of the ICCC.
During the hearing, the teachers alleged that the college does not implement the Magna Carta for Teachers particularly the salaries, promotes and regularizes unqualified teachers, gives substandard salaries compared to other public schools, realigns the budget, and uses obsolete school equipment, particularly books.
They claimed that some faculty members who have stayed for more than three years and are more than qualified for promotion were left behind.
They also alleged that Octavio is using the services of job hires to do repair jobs and transport some items and household appliances to her apartment.
They further claimed that the administrator is allegedly using the old cooperative for her personal money lending activity.
The complainants also demanded that the administrator account for the donations to the school, including cash given by some businesspersons.
On the first allegation on the implementation of salary standardization of regular faculty members, Octavio said the financial adjustments related to salaries are dependent on the personal services (PS) ceiling of the city government.
As to regularization of unqualified teachers, she said it is the prerogative of the city mayor to promote teachers.
“This is a sweeping statement. The Board of Trustees consulted with the Human Resource and Management Office (HRMO) of the city who advised them of the constraints of the PS ceiling. It is the prerogative of the City Mayor to promote regardless of the number of years in service,” Octavio said.
As to the issue of low salary, she referred the matter to the HRMO. She added that the salary is commensurate to the salary grade of teachers.
On her use of job hires for personal purposes, she said it is an “attempt to malign the administrator.”
On the controversy on donations and other financial issues, she said all the cash collections are remitted to the City Treasurer’s Office.
She added that some donors want to remain anonymous that is why they cannot divulge their names.
BASIS OF APPOINTMENT
Meanwhile, City Councilor Plaridel Nava, author of Regulation Ordinance 2011-275 which created the Iloilo City Community College, questioned the legal basis of Octavio appointment as the college administrator.
Nava noted that there is no provision in the ordinance creating the position of a college administrator.
The ordinance only provided for the creation of the Board of Trustees, the Academic Council, and the Dean of Instruction.
Mayor Jose Espinosa III chairs the Board while City Councilor Lady Julie Grace Baronda is a member being the chair of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology.
Other members of the board include are:
the College president,
Commission on Higher Education (CHED-6) regional director,
president of the faculty association,
president of the Supreme Student Government/Council,
president of the alumni association,
a representative of the Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU) in Iloilo City, and
four prominent citizens of Iloilo City appointed by the City Mayor who are not occupying or holding government position or office in another educational institution
“So there is no such thing as city administrator,” Nava said.
Octavio said former city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog appointed her as ICCC administrator.
Octavio also referred Nava to Section 7 of Regulation Ordinance 2014-001 as to her position.
But when verified, there was nothing in the ordinance creating the said position. Regulation Ordinance 2014-001 only directed the creation of two additional members of the BoT.
Nava ordered Octavio to provide them a copy of her appointment.
RALLY
Nava also expressed rage following the staging of a rally by ICCC students at Plaza Libertad in front of the Iloilo City Hall.
The students were holding placards allegedly accusing the city council and the complainants of politicking, trial by publicity, and demeaning their college.
“You don’t have the right to insult the councilors who created the college for you. Is this what you give us in return?” Nava said.
He ordered the management to investigate the action and that someone must be held accountable for it.
Councilor Lyndon Acap said someone may have goaded the students allegedly to defend the administration.
“It is not good nga ang mga students pa-entrahon naton,” he said.
Acap also directed the college to submit documents pertaining to the cooperatives.
Both parties clarified that they do not harbor ill feelings or motives towards each other as they only came out in the open to defend their claims.
SOURCE: The Daily Guardian
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