School board exec steps down from post

CEBU, Philippines — Provincial School Board co-chairperson Dr. Rhea A. Angtud, who is Cebu Schools Division Superintendent, is resigning from her post in the board.

In a letter read by lawyer Orvelle dela Cerna, the legal officer of DepEd Cebu Province, Angtud expressed her desire to step down as Governor Gwen Garcia’s co-chair in the local school board.

Angtud, in her letter, said she will step down for “peace, harmony and goodwill.”

In the previous board meeting, Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco, the President of the League of Municipalities Cebu (LMP) Chapter, expressed her dismay at DepEd’s action of not consulting the local government units in the appointment of DepEd District Heads in cities and municipalities in the board and the identification of sites for the construction of school buildings in their areas.

Also during the same meeting, she revealed that members of the LMP have also requested for Angtud’s reassignment out of the Province of Cebu.

In yesterday’s meeting, Angtud, in a separate letter, said that she would be “eternally grateful” for her reassignment and she wishes for the process to be expedited.

Meanwhile, the rest of the School Board has questioned the legality of Angtud’s intent to resign.

As superintendent, she holds an ex-officio position in the board. This means that she sits as co-chairperson by virtue of her position at DepEd.

“This is in preparation of her pending transfer, as her transfer documents has already been signed as well. So, probably within a month from now or with the coming days or weeks, the transfer will already be effective,” dela Cerna said.

Angtud has recommended the three Assistant Schools Division Superintendents - Dr. Ester Futalan, Dr. Leah Apao, and Dr. Cartesa Perico – to replace her.

However, the board maintained that they are not legally allowed to vote for the new co-chair, since Angtud’s action reportedly is not allowed by law.

“It is rather embarrassing for a schools division superintendent – one who has a doctorate and who is presumed to have read very carefully and understood that local government code,” Garcia said. — GAN (FREEMAN)