TABUK CITY, Kalinga – On February 3, 2022, Mayor Darwin C. Estrañero handed over the amount of P1.5 million in cash to the Schools Division Accounting Office as support to Tabuk City teaching and non-teaching personnel.
It will be recalled that the Mayor promised teaching and non-teaching personnel of Schools Division Office (SDO) of Tabuk his support in 2019 shortly after assuming office.
In 2019, upon the request of the mayor, Eduardo Sacayle and Atty. Henry “Dagul” B. Tubban, chairperson of the SP Committee on Education and a member of the Sangguniang Panglunsod (SP) respectively, sponsored the ordinance which the Mayor expected to be approved not later than August 2020 for inclusion in the budget. However, due to many issues, including the pandemic, the approved ordinance was transmitted and received by the Mayor’s office in September 2021. This prevented it from being included in the City’s 2021 Annual Budget.
As soon as the approved law, which allows for a monthly assistance of P500 to teaching and non- teaching personnel, was received by the Mayor’s Office, the Mayor ensured that the funds were made available in time for the November and December 2021 releases.
Teaching and non-teaching personnel of Tabuk City’s SDO will each receive P1,000.00 from the above-mentioned sum.
The monthly support to teachers and non-teaching personnel in Tabuk has now become a statutory obligation of the city government to the teaching and non-teaching personnel under SDO-Tabuk City as a result of the ordinance passed.
When asked why the Mayor was so intent on assisting teachers, Estrañero explained that he believes teachers play a vital role in molding the city’s young children into better, more dynamic, and productive persons and leaders in the future.
“Teachers play an important part in the lives of our children. They give them the gift of knowledge. All things that can be attained in life are built on the foundation of knowledge and education. Teachers give today’s youngsters the power of education, allowing them to have a better future,” he remarked.
“It’s a great responsibility to be in charge of influencing young brains. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that teachers have the ability to alter lives, and we all know how much they sacrifice in the process. As a result, while the help we’re offering them isn’t much, it’s something we can do to express how much we respect them and how grateful we are for guiding us to this point,” he added.
