On Teacher’s Appointments

 By Nash Tahang

(This is an opinion page of Tawi-Tawi Mirror written by the editor)

Well, we just want to congratulate 27 newly appointed teachers for DepEd Tawi-Tawi, whose appointments have already been attested by the CSC-ARMM, according to Asec Noor Saada in his FB postings.  These appointments were returned to the office of OIC-Superintendent Nuhaila Amirulhadj who will direct the new regular teachers to undergo Teachers Orientation Program (TOP).  Seven of these teachers have already their places of deployment while the other 20 has yet to be assigned by the SDS.   TOP is a 5-day program for new permanent teachers aimed to facilitate their transition into government service, specifically into the public school system.  The program is composed of two parts: Opening of the Mind and Opening of the Heart. According to Asec Saada, the morning and afternoon sessions are intended to open their minds about pertinent laws, rules and regulations including that of CSC, GSIS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, PPSTA and BIR. The evening session, a short and informal one is about opening their hearts, their motivation and commitment to the teaching profession.

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       It is wanton to note that the new teachers haven’t bought their appointments; because Asec Saada said their office (Deped-Region) is not in the business of selling appointments. He stressed that RG Mujiv Hataman and RS Jamar Kulayan (DepEd) are vehemently condemning this illegal system.  Urged applicants to apply directly to the regional office and shun anybody posing as agents or middleman for money consideration in exchange of appointments. The DepEd-Region is directing applicants to report this activity.  So that anybody indulging in it will be slapped with the force of the law.

       Looking at the developments in DepEd today seems that regional officials are dead serious in their commitment of reforming the system in the ARMM. No ghosts schools and teachers, no trading in appointments, and no more SOPs?  Well and good! Congratulations DepEd officials and more power.

     Oh by the way, some preschool teachers appointed last June 2012, are asking for their salaries, seems that DepEd –Region has forgotten their plights. No salary received yet until today.

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     The 2^nd Governor Nurbert Sahali Cup on the Lawn Tennis tournament is in its hottest motion.  Scheduled on November 23-26, the four-day lawn tennis competition is a sports program of Governor Toto Sahali in coordination with DPWH chief, Engr. Bensoud Ajihil. The two are avid players of basket ball and lawn tennis.  They believe in the athletic development of the people, especially, the youth so that it would shun them from doing societal maladies and keep them in good health, as sports bridge good exercise, to maintain healthy condition.  Gov. Sahali as a sports lover has sponsored basket ball tournaments and lawn tennis cups in barely five months in office. He has also been to sponsorship of many games even during his stint as mayor of Panglima Sugala.  And who knows in few months time, the governor will also sponsor skills training for youth development program of the provincial government. We look forward to that because lots of school leavers will be benefitted from the program.  And before we forget, the Pacquiao-Rios brawl last Sunday was amazingly seen in the MSU gymnasium - converted movie house sponsored by Gov. Toto Sahali and Vice Gov Tati Ahaja, in coordination with Zenar Telecom and MSU-Tawi-Tawi.  Pacman wins!  Kudos PK, again! 

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       The PIA-9 and Basulta Area in coordination with COMNET Tawi-Tawi is going to conduct a media seminar-workshop on journalism to about a hundred high school students of Tawi-Tawi on the week end. My partner, Dave Malcampo will lead the training activities.  Dave has been at the helm of several trainings in varied fields but his forte is of course – media - as he has been in this job all his life, and now being manager of the PIA Info-center of R9 and BASULTA, maintaining the PIA “Your News Today” dispatch, he is sharing and imparting his stock knowledge to the younger generations. Albeit his invitation to let me lecture on straight news was a good opportunity for me to teach the younger news enthusiasts, but I have to turn it down because of a trip I have to make importantly.  Anyway, good luck to future journalists of Tawi-Tawi.

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       So far, there are already three bills filed by Congress- woman Ruby Sahali in the lower house.  As far as I know, bills like elevating the status of Datu Halaun Sakilan Memorial Hospital from a 50-bed capacity to 200- bed capacity was her first filed in Congress; followed by a bill proposing the establishment of a municipal hospital in Panglima Sugala, and the one seeking Turtle Islands as a protected area.  Well, such a transparency by posting her activities in congress in her FB is a will to inform the people of her representation, of what she is doing in the Batasang Pambansa.  But what is miserable to note is the impediment of not being able to implement something, like the privilege undertaken by past representatives in Congress, because the PDAF scam brought the scrapping of this pork barrel funds of the lawmakers.

        Latest reports say that the Napoles PDAF scam was masterminded by a most senior senator of the republic – Juan Ponce Enrile – who is known for his campaign slogan “Gusto ko Masaya ka” yet ironically, he has caused sadness to almost all lawmakers and other PDAF dependents, and disgrace to the whole nation by being a corrupt public official. Actually, it’s not only Enrile who is of this caliber, lots of them in the government.

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       There have been super typhoons that hit the Philippines such as Ondoy and Sendong but the worst of them all is super typhoon Yolanda which devastated Visayas and some parts of Mindanao. The gravest hit by Yoling is Tacloban which made the city a ghost and a dead one.  It is hard to believe that more than five thousand people died because of the wrath made by Yolanda, although foreign aid has reached almost 13 billion pesos but it could do nothing to revive the lost lives taken by Yolanda. What is really wrong with the Philippines?  Notwithstanding the scientific theory of the typhoon belts in the country, Filipinos have to ponder why the wrath of nature such as super typhoons is happening?  Does this natural calamities manifest a signal from up above that Filipinos should repent?

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        By the way my buddy, Sali Jamasali, DXDC station manager is recalled to render media duties in Tacloban City for two weeks. Well, that is a prize of being good and efficient.  Carry on man, be the best of whatever and wherever you are.     

Sahali urges ulema to begin construction of grand mosque

By Nash Tahang

Governor Toto Sahali has nodded his consent to the construction of the Grand Mosque, after a group of ulama from the Majlisul A’ala, has sought his intervention to bring the long delayed mosque project to reality.

     In a meeting with Tawi-Tawi Mufti Abdulwahid Inju, the governor has urged the mufti to meet with his colleagues and finalize the decision to start the construction. 

    Inju said that the meeting among the ulama group of the Majlisul A’ala has been done and the decision is to adhere to the governor’s suggestion.

     Gov. Sahali also said the P7.5 million savings from the voluntary contributions of the government agencies and the people of Tawi-Tawi   is enough to start the initial stage of the mosque project and “as the project is on the process of construction, the people of Tawi-Tawi are expected to all join hands to finish the grand mosque project,” he stressed.

     He also committed to delegate the Provincial Engineers Office to lead in the construction to assure the project is properly carried according to its specification.

     As of press time, Governor Sahali is waiting for the final resolution of the Majlisul A’ala on the mosque project, which the provincial government will be spearheading through the request of the ulama group of Tawi-Tawi.

     The grand mosque project was conceptualized by the Majlisul A’ala about a decade ago and has aimed to raise the amount of P90 million to complete the project.  

     Sources say, the ulama group has already sought foreign aid, aside from the voluntary contribution of the people of Tawi-Tawi, the government agencies, and the private sectors to help attain the completion of the grand mosque project.

     Yet after a decade of waiting for huge funds to commence the project, only an amount of P7.5 from the voluntary contributions of the people of Tawi-Tawi is now ready to initiate the project, which Governor Toto Sahali is ardently taking part to funnel the construction upon the request of the Majlisul A’ala. 

    Among the government agencies that shared bigger amount of contributions include the provincial government of Tawi-Tawi, then under the able leadership of Governor Dick Sahali, the Mindanao State University, then under the chancellorship of Dean Eddie Alih, the Department of Public Works and Highways, with District Engineer Bensoud Ajihil at the helm, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, headed by Penro Jonel Moh. Monel.

     With the young Sahali at the helm of provincial leadership and committing support to the project through the request of the Majlisul A’ala, the probability of initiating the project start is near imagination.

     The fact that the young governor has accomplished the Batu-Batu Mosque when he was still mayor of that municipality, he would do the same with the grand mosque project  with the support of the constituents, as this benefits the religious creed of the people of Tawi-Tawi.