Moncada, Tarlac – -Get out!
This is how the message of the mayors of this province is described as they seek the ouster of Department of Education Division Superintendent Estrelita Cunanan.
Cunanan heads all the teaching force of Tarlac province.
In the strongly worded Resolution of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) of this province, Cunanan is being requested to be transferred elsewhere.
The LMP resolution which was primarily addressed to DepEd secretary Leonora Briones was also conveyed to governor Susan Yap-Sulit and the 3 congressmen of the province.
“On behalf of the of the school supervisors and principals of Tarlac Province (the LMP) request(s) the immediate transfer of Cunanan to restore the trust and confidence of the teaching force of Tarlac Province”, says the mayors’ resolution.
Contained in the resolution were alleged 14 issues of “misconduct and malpractice” of Cunanan including “spending of public funds for leisure, midnight appointment and promotion of non-deserving employee(s), utter bias or favoritism on the ranking system”, among others.
“We only acted on the numerous complaints brought to us by school principals and supervisors. Though she (Cunanan) is cordial to us mayors, we have to act on their complaints. She is unwanted by them”, said Moncada town mayor Estelita Aquino, president of the LMP Tarlac, in an interview.
A principal of an elementary school who requested her name withheld for fear of reprisal said, “she (Cunanan) is unfair, conceited, pompous and corrupt. Her management style is dictatorial. Our supervisors are not allowed to visit the schools under them without her consent. She scolds us like school children. We cannot even suggest anything for the betterment of our students and schools”.
The resolution was motioned by San Manuel mayor Benjamin Tesoro who was quoted as saying, “napakarami ng reklamo sa kanya, kaya dapat na siyang i-transfer”.
Apparently, the resolution was submitted to Briones almost a month ago, but the DepEd secretary has not acted on the issue.
One other concern raised against Cunanan was her alleged “coddling” of Tarlac National High School (TNHS) principal Yolanda Gonzales who hugged the national news for allegedly collecting P950 per student as “compulsory miscellaneous fee”.
With the controversy, many parents and teachers called for the relief of Gonzales but Cunanan let the beleaguered school head stay on her post.
“We are totally demoralized. We and our supervisors find it hard to work under Cunanan. She should be relieved”, said the same principal.
Cunanan refused to be interviewed.