Principal in trouble for cutting trees

CEBU, Philippines - A school principal is in trouble after ordering to have 22 government-owned jackfruit trees cut without asking permission from the Department of Education and barangay officials.

Zenith Guzman, principal of Guibuangan National High School in Barangay Guibuangan, Barili, Cebu apologized to Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia who asked to see her yesterday.

Provincial Schools Superintendent Arden Monisit was also present.

Monisit said, Garcia was displeased with Guzman for having the jackfruit trees, which the governor ordered planted in 2004, cut without asking permission from proper authorities.

“Sige man gud og pananom si gov and here comes this school head nga gipamutol lang,” Monisit said. The trees were cut early in July, along with some Gmelina trees for which she did have permission.

Guzman, who was assigned as the school principal of the said national high school last May 27, ordered to have the trees cut as they were planted too close to each other, thereby blocking the view of their school.

“Actually duna siya’y idea nga sa province to. Nangayo siya og pasaylo kang Gov kay sa iya ra daw ‘tong desire to enhance the beauty sa ilang school,” Monisit said.

Monisit said it was Guibuangan barangay captain Nelson Gingoyon who complained to the office of the governor about what Guzman did. Gingoyon, Monisit said, was the one who planted the seedlings which came from the provincial government.

Monisit said Guzman should have asked clearance first from him or from the barangay captain and the Parents and Teachers Association. By failing to do so, Monisit said Guzman violated Presidential Decree 953.

As an immediate action, Monisit said they ordered Guzman to replace the cut trees by planting the same today. He has ordered Corazon Pumar, the supervisor in charge of Barili, to monitor the planting.

Aside from that, Monisit said he also directed their legal officer to file appropriate charges against the principal.

Late in the afternoon yesterday, they have already issued an order to the principal to submit a written explanation under oath within 24 hours.

DepEd-7 Regional Director Recaredo Borgonia will determine the sanction, he said.

Garcia also directed her lawyer to file an appropriate case against the school principal. (FREEMAN)