More teachers from the 67 public schools in Bacolod City are seeking the retention of Milagros Gonzales as Schools Division Superintendent of Bacolod City in response to the moves of Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella for her transfer or promotion.

The officers and members of the Bacolod City Public School Teachers’ and Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative composed of more than 1,700 elementary and high school teachers, and the Bacolod City Public School Teachers Association and National Organization of Professional Teachers composed of 2,600 elementary and high school teachers, also manifested their strong support for the leadership of Gonzales.

Puentevella had requested for the reassignment, or promotion of Gonzales, and for the designation of Luisito Escalona, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent of Negros Occidental, as officer-in-charge until a permanent division head is selected.

Earlier, about 609 members of the Association of Classroom Teachers of Bacolod had signed a petition appealing to Department of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus for the retention of Gonzales.

Meanwhile, the BCPST-EMPC and the BCPSTA-NOPTI members, in separate letters sent to Lapus, said Gonzales has continuously proven her competence and worth through her effective leadership, management and administration of the educational affairs and programs of the DepEd in Bacolod City.

Her stay in the position for many years is evidence of her unquestioned integrity, fairness and continued effectiveness and efficiency in managing people, resources, the schools and in sustaining the harmonious relations of all stakeholders of the educational system, the teachers said.

Because of this, Bacood City has sustained and even improved its status in terms of students’ achievement, faculty development, people involvement and school’s performance in curricular, cultural, sports and community activities, they said.

The teachers also said Gonzales is very supportive of the many projects and programs of the schools. Allowing her to culminate her career in Bacolod City would ensure the implementation and attainment of all these projects such as the establishment of computer laboratory in every school to facilitate e-learning, improvement of libraries, and many other leadership and development programs involving the students and faculty, they said.

Puentevella had said that Gonzales is due for promotion and that he sent the letter requesting for her reassignment or promotion in response to DepEd’s request for a recommendee, as there was a vacancy in the Schools Division of Negros Occidental at that time. He also said his act is “consistent” with the government’s thrust to provide opportunities for career officers to rise within the organization.*CGS

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