Pangasinan governor shies away from graduation rites

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Gov. Amado Espino Jr. has politely turned down all invitations to make a speech before graduates of public schools in the province, including his alma mater, the Bayambang National High School which held its commencement rites last March 28.

The governor made the hard decision in deference to a directive by Education Secretary Jesli Lapus enjoining public school officials to refrain from getting politicians as guests of honor and speakers at graduation exercises.

“This is to protect school officials from possible reprimand,” he said.

Nonetheless, Espino gave assurance of his full support for the local education sector, which recently suffered a setback after Lapus reprimanded two schools division superintendents for the reported mass production and distribution of a teachers’ guidebook without prior clearance from higher authorities.

Espino said he would continue supporting local public school officials, especially in undertakings aimed at improving the teaching-learning facilities to ensure better quality of education.

Lapus earlier reassigned Dr. Alma Ruby Torio and demoted lawyer Armando Aquino, both Pangasinan schools superintendents, for their alleged failure to inform higher education officials about the mass production of the teacher’s guidebook.

But Espino, along with the provincial board, had asked Lapus to reconsider his directive and allow the two school officials to remain in their posts. They also made an appeal to President Arroyo.