DepEd-Danao superintendent denies allegations against her in online petition

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Department of Education (DepEd)-Danao City Schools Division Superintendent Leah Noveras strongly denied allegations against her stated in an online petition to oust her.

The online petition, entitled “The Agony of Deped Danaoanon Teachers under the Noveras Administration,” was addressed to DepEd Region 7 Director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, Education Secretary Leonor Briones, the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Danao City Mayor’s Office, and all legal practitioners.

It accused Noveras of grave abuse of authority and dictatorial tendencies, negligence of duty, oppression, violation of existing civil service law, among others. 

It also alleged that Noveras ousted officials and employees not in good grace with her, such as non-teaching personnel, and those who are infected with COVID-19 were said to have also been forced to resign. It also alleged that some teachers were transferred to mountainous areas without their consent.

Noveras vehemently denied the accusations thrown at her and challenged the petitioners to bring their complaint to the proper forum.

She said that the transfer of teachers to their original assignments in their plantilla was based on the Regional Memorandum 405 series of 2015.

“Actually naa nani siya’y standing order, Regional Memorandum 405 series of 2015. Unya pagka 2015 wala man gyud ni siya malihok hangtod karon. And then last August, naka-receive ko ug email, making a follow-up nga because the budget hearing is here, [they needed to]  make sure that the plantilla is already aligned with the deployment. Mao ni siya ang pinaka-basis ani niya,” Noveras explained.

(Actually there’s a standing order for this, Regional Memorandum 405 series of 2015. In 2015, this wasn’t done until now. in august I received an e-mail [from the regional office] asking for a follow-up because the budget hearing is here and they needed to make sure that the plantilla is already aligned with the deployment. That’s the basis of this transfer.)

Noveras added that she also needed to do this to complement the needs of other schools, especially that around 10 new schools opened in the city.

“Dili tanan teachers gipanglahugay ug gipangbalhin because there are already teachers that are within their own plantilla. So kung naa naka sa imong plantilla, dili na gyud ka ibalhin kay station specific man imong appointment,” she added.

(Not all teachers were transferred because there are already teachers who are within their own plantilla. So if you are in your plantilla, you won’t be transferred because the appointment is station specific.) 

Noveras also clarified that she consulted with the teachers, principals and supervisors before implementing the order.

In the issue of the termination of teaching and non-teaching personnel, Noveras said that superintendents cannot immediately fire their personnel because it still needs to undergo due process.

Noveras added that she believes that some people are backing up these teachers who want her out in the DepEd-Danao City Schools Division.

As of Thursday, September 24, 2020, 12 people have signed the online petition. 

/bmjo

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