6th ‘usec’ causes headache at DepEd

Already hard-pressed to comply with the austerity campaign of the government, the Department of Education (DepEd) must now grapple with the added burden posed by the unprecedented appointment of a sixth undersecretary by Malacañang.

A department insider told reporters that the question of looking for office space and budget for newly appointed Undersecretary Mona Valisno was proving to be a big headache for the DepEd.

"We don’t know where to get the money and space for her office," the source said.

The insider said that Valisno, a former presidential adviser on education and chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, had already inquired about her salary, service car and staff.

The DepEd has the option to ask the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for additional funding for the post. If that is not possible, the DepEd may have to delve into the funds of existing projects, the source said.

The DepEd has four so-called "genuine" undersecretaries: Ramon Bacani for regional operations, Jose Luis Gascon for legal and legislative affairs, Juan Miguel Luz for finance and management, and Fe Hidalgo for plans and Programs Fe Hidalgo.

President Arroyo named in 2001 Manaros Boransing as Education Undersecretary for Mindanao Affairs, with the designation "special assistant with the rank of undersecretary."

Aside from the questions of budget and office space, there are also questions as to what portfolio would be given to Valisno.

"We have to wait for (Undersecretary) Fe Hidalgo to determine what functions can be passed on to her," the source said.

The source said that the Administrative Code only provides for four "genuine" undersecretaries.

A possible solution to this legal roadblock is for Malacañang to modify Valisno’s appointment from a regular undersecretary to a "special assistant with the rank of undersecretary," as was the case with Boransing

It was learned that Valisno was sworn in as DepEd undersecretary last Aug. 31 by the President herself before she flew to China for her state visit.

Valisno reportedly surfaced the following day at the department’s turnover ceremonies, where former secretary Edilberto de Jesus handed over control of the department to Secretary Florencio Abad.

Valisno is a "comebacking" DepEd official, having been the founding executive director of the National Education Testing and Research Center (NETRC) from 1975 to 1992.

But her appointment has been cited by the DepEd central office union as one of their reasons for opposing cost-cutting measures such as the prohibition on overtime work with pay.