ILOILO City – What politics? The Sangguniang Panlungsod’s (SP) investigation on the alleged anomalies and mismanagement of the Iloilo City Community College (ICCC) has nothing to do with it, according to Mayor Jose Espinosa III. But he stressed the importance of observing due process in the probe.
At the start of the SP inquiry on Monday, the focus was on ICCC administrator Ma. Mathilde Treñas Octavio, cousin of Espinosa’s estranged political ally, Cong. Jerry Treñas.
Espinosa said he was not keen on right away relieving Octavio from her post while the SP investigation was ongoing.
“I-relieve mo automatic? Kinahanglan may proseso. We should follow due process,” he stressed.
Octavio dismissed the complaints of four teachers about ICCC as unfounded and an attempt to malign her.
But Espinosa said the investigation should proceed.
“Kinahanglan tan-awon mo gid biskan isa lang ka reklamo,” he said.
On Monday while the SP inquiry was ongoing at city hall, across the street at Plaza Libertad a group of ICCC students staged a protest.
They hoisted streamers crying, “Keep politics off our school!”, “Stop trial by publicity”, “Indi pagpakahuy-e ang eskwelahan”, and “Do not demean our school.”
“Daw waay man (pulitika)…tan-awon ta kay it was brought to our attention. May gareklamo. Nabasa ko naman,” said Espinosa.
The mayor said he also wanted to get to the bottom of the complaints. The SP should scrutinize the allegations, he stressed.
“Render a verdict only after a fair hearing,” stressed Espinosa.
Octavio was appointed ICCC school administrator by Espinosa’s predecessor, then mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
The “non-standardization” of teachers’ salaries and alleged non-observance of the magna carta for teachers were the main gripes of the four ICCC teacher complainants Anelyn Janaban, Maria Fe Alejandria, Rezlie Martinez, and Arthur Soqueña. They urged the SP to conduct an inquiry on the college’s operations and how its budget is being utilized.
Meanwhile, Councilor Plaridel Nava criticized ICCC students that staged a rally outside city hall on Monday.
“Who allowed them to go there and have a rally?” Nava asked Octavio.
The ICCC administrator said she had no idea.
Nava said the students should be reminded that it was the city council which approved the creation of ICCC via an ordinance in 2012.
“Who are they to tell us what to do, we the people who created the Iloilo City Community College? Someone must be held accountable, we will never allow this,” said Nava.
He told Octavio to conduct an investigation.
“I want you to investigate kon sin-o nagdala sa ila. Kon sin-o ang mga involved nga mga students,” said Nava.
He added: “Don’t insult the city councilors. This is not for publicity. We are talking here of legitimate issues.”
Nava, on the other hand, commended the four ICCC teachers for speaking up about their concerns.
In conducting the inquiry, the city council convened itself as a committee of the whole.
According to the four complaining teachers, because the ICCC teachers’ salaries were lower compared to those of other local colleges and universities, there was a fast turnover of faculty members. This, in turn, had made the ICCC a mere training ground of teachers, they lamented.
The teachers also questioned the promotion process at ICCC. They claimed some of those promoted were not qualified while those qualified were not promoted.
The ICCC library was also a concern, added the four teachers.
Most books were “not aligned” with the courses offered by the school – Bachelor of Science in Office Administration and Bachelor of Science in Travel Management – they claimed.
If the teachers were to be believed, the ICCC library’s development was frequently being cited so the school could easily secure additional budget but funds allocated were usually realigned or used for other matters.
The ICCC, located on corner Tiolas-MH del Pilar streets in Molo district, was opened in 2012 to serve poor but deserving students in Iloilo City. It aims to “uplift the dignity of the youth through high quality, affordable and accessible education.”/PN
