A Half-day Conference Between DepED and LGU - Indanan

SB Hall, Pasil, Indanan, Sulu - A half-day conference occurred between the LGU headed by Hon. Hermot "Moy" D. Jikiri, ew Mayor-elect in the Municipality of Indanan and two DepED districts, Indanan South District headed by PSDS Samoore S. Ladjahali and Indanan North District led by Dr. Garcia B. Paradji, District In-Charge. The face-to-face Indanan DepED-LGU session commenced at around 9:30 in the morning of July 21, 2016. Hji. Iriles N. Ladjabassal, Municipal Information Officer had been in the district offices two days before the actual meeting with Hon. Mayor. He personally informed the two district heads about the personal involvement of all school heads in the different schools of Indanan North and Indanan South District. A page of bond paper written with agenda of the conference was also presented to DIC, Dr. Garcia B. Paradji. It could hardly be determined whether it was a second page or second to the last page of the Municipal Memorandum. There was only one copy given to DIC. Thus, Sir Sam just captured by his mobile camera. 

Suggested focal point was Improving the Quality of Education. It outlined the basic and fundamental education issues and concerns such as: 1. Volunteer teachers; 2. Indanan Municipal School Board (Programs and Projects); 3. Reporting to work (Basis under the law); 4. Administrative issues and personnel discipline; 5. Athletics (Training, playground, representation during big athletic events, school canteen, etc.); 6. K to 12; 7. Teachers and other organizations; 8. School-community relations; 9. Assignment and promotion; and 10. Others.

Expected outcomes encoded in the document were enumerated in the following manner:

1. The underlying issues concerning the volunteer teachers are threshed out
2. The priority programs of the school board school year 2016-17 are listed. How they may be implemented shall be discussed in subsequent meetings
3. The Mayor is briefed on specific time of arrival and departure of teachers
4. Administrative problems are highlighted and solutions are proposed and or adopted
5. The Mayor is briefed on the K to 12 Program
6. The areas of coordination between the school administration and the municipal government are discussed and shall be made as point of reference wherever and whenever applicable
7. The participation of the Mayor with regard to the movement or promotion of teachers
8. Teachers briefed the Mayor of various concerns attendant to the improvement of the quality of education in the Municipality of Indanan 

Both school heads and district coordinators of Indanan North and Indanan South Districts fully attended the firtly-held conference between the Municipal Mayor and DepED-Indanan school officials. The gathering was a part of the 100-day activities of the Mayor, which was not observed during the reign of former Mayor, Hon. Saripuddin "Eddih" D. Jikiri. Participants from Indanan South District appeared on the hereunder-posted photo and may be enumerated this way:

1. Samoore S. Ladjahali - PSDS
2. Faijal I. Andan - TIC of Sapah Malawm PS and Saie PS
3. Faisal A. Kadil - Heade Teacher III of Pasil ES
4. Nagdar U. Sasapan - TIC of Panglima Misuari PS and Cmdr. Bara Jalaidi PS
5. Marites H. Madjirul - Caretaker of Panglima Ahajan ES
6. Kauzar I. Jawang - TIC of Manilop PS
7. Hja. Nalda J. Muksan - Principal of Langpas ES
8. Melda I. Adug - Head Teacher III of Mukammali ES
9. Hja. Radzma A. Amilasan - Caretaker of Poblacion ES
10. Andrada M. Asid - TIC of Panglima Indanan CS
11. Dr. Hja. Sarah Y. Hayudini - Principal of Palan ES
12. Masdida M. Sarabi - TIC of Timbangan ES
13. Josefina S. Ajijul - School Caretaker of Panglima Mammah ES
14. Nur-aisha A. Gonzales - Principal of Kasambuhan Village ES
15. Naser L. Assil - District Property Custodian
16. Jahaddi J. Taulani - District PESS Coordinator
17. Marjin J. Madjirul - Teacher I of Cmdr. Bara Jalaidi PS
18. Hamir P. Halid

Similarly, Indanan North District head, school heads and coordinators were also more than ten pax like the other district. 

Two school heads of Indanan South District abstained in the participation of that conference. It was Jurmainna H. Hunding, Head Teacher III of Bunot Elementary School and Delda J. Amdan, TIC of Dayuan Primary School and Lugmah Primary School. The school head of Bunot ES was busy with her meeting with all the PTA officers and members while Delda J. Amdan was in hospital for pre-natal check up.

ISD participants to the conference were first to arrive in the SB Hall before the Indanan North District school officials entered the hall. The conference started with an invocation by the PSDS of ISD and followed by the introductory message delivered by the Municipal Administrator, Hon. Hji. Akmad A. Muksan. The Municipal Information Officer expanded the topics by way of reading those listed-above agenda after Moy uttered short message over the objectives of the first conference with school officials. 

Utuh Dirih, the Municipal Information Officer asked ISD PSDS to say something about those agenda. Sir Moore started with volunteer teachers. He revealed that Regional Memorandum reiterated the no more hiring or recruiting of volunteer teachers. It happened once in the ISD elementary schools when Kindergarten class became mandatory to all schools as prescribed by the K to 12 Curriculum. It was officially recognized by DepED and given P 3,000.00 salary but it vanished until these days. If there are still existing volunteerism in any schools, he did not affix his signature in the MOA (Memorandum Of Agreement) as before. It's up for the school or between the barangay captain and the volunteer if certain program initiated by the BLGU and the schools. He called one of his school administrators to describe an issue why volunteer teachers were hired in the school like Timbangan Elementary School headed by TIC, Masdida M. Sarabi.

On matters of reporting, PSDS Sam explained how he dealt with school heads in the signing of daily class programs prepared by every class adviser and for recommending approval of every school head. He also asked the meeting if 6 to 8-hour service prescribed by Civil Service Commission is true to all agencies of the government. According to Sir Moore that he read guidelines on the overtime payment that should be given to teachers serving eight hours of service. He expressed his sentiments over the non-payment or hazard fee in time when teachers reported to their respective stations during unstable peace and order situation along the way. He cited many instances happened in the areas of Indanan South District. He strongly denied any disruption of classes in ISD schools except in March 10 Incident encountered by Panglima Mammah ES teachers, Dayuan Incident, Offensive Conduct of Military Operation in Mount Tumantangis and July 14 Incident between Manilop Primary School and Poblacion Elementary School. He further extended his exposition over the implementation of DRRMC and EiE in time of natural and human calamities destined to any areas in ISD schools. The PSDS, accordingly, would automatically led his team to assess the conditions of learners in the affected schools.

The District In-Charge of Indanan North District took the floor after Sir Moore. Dr. Paradji almost spoke similar descriptions with Sir Sam over the agenda of the meeting. He quoted Duterte saying that every government offices should observe 8-hour service daily. Most of the schools hired volunteer teachers and they  had strong intention to ask honorarium from the municipal government. However, Sir Moore discouraged it. He expressed his apprehension on it in the appearance of Mayor's liquidation as what happened before in the many LGU's offices until it was complained in the higher up. Sir Moore did not want to be called up for explanation to the regional and division offices on matters of sustaining volunteer teachers from the LGU offices. 

The meeting also encouraged school heads to present their issues and concerns. Nagdar U. Sasapan presented request of his annex, Cmdr. Bara Jalaidi PS which was in need of materials for school shack and repair of 2-classroom school building constructed in Barangay Karawan in year 2000. The MIO accepted his letter of request. In the same manner, Langpas ES and Mukammali ES verbally submitted their request for school building repairs and installation of solar energy in their school. However, the Municipal Administrator stressed that every request should be properly endorsed by the Barangay Chairpersons of the schools. Fortunately, the MIO still encouraged school heads to directly submit request to the Indanan Municipal School Board. It was here the conference ended.