LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – After going on recess, the Pangasinan provincial board headed by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. decided to held on abeyance the proposed declaration of persona non grata against Pangasinan State University (PSU) President Dexter Buted.
This developed after the university president snubbed the invitation of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) for a supposed question hour in the regular session on October 3.
Buted, who also serves as vice chairman of the university’s board of regents, along with other PSU officials, was invited again by the provincial board specifically by SP Members Noel Bince, Jeremy Agerico Rosarion, Raul P. Sison, and Rosary Gracia P. Perez-Tababa for an inquiry on the concerns and issues regarding the on-the-job training program of the state university and the new rules of the board of regents.
Expressing disappointment, BM Rosario, instead, delivered a privilege speech to point out disgust on the PSU official.
Rosario stressed that inasmuch as the adhoc committee desired to set a much vivid picture of the issue the non-appearance of Buted and other school officials manifest lack of courtesy to the highest legislative body of the province.
The courtesy accorded to the PSU, according to him, can be felt in the way the provincial government extends support to university through the scholarship program accorded to over 2,000 students of the state university. Each student is allotted P10,000.
making the provincial board “virtually powerless.”
However, the 4th district board member cleared that the SP is not an administrative body. The invitation, he added, can only be considered as “last ditch effort in aid of legislation.”
Showing same sentiment as Rosario, BM Noel Bince said he wanted to sit down with Atty. Geraldine Baniqued and possibly consider filing a contempt in court.
Showing deep concern on the welfare of the OJT student and other would-be victims, second district board member Raul Sison noted this is the first time that the provincial board was ignored by a huge institution.
Sison, who held a copy communication letter coming from Buted which aired the latter’s alibi for the non-appearance, partly reads: “Rest assured that the PSU will remain as your strategic partner.”
Disclosing that Buted was a no-show at SP for three times, Sison questioned the sincerity of the message as he stressed that the mere fact that the school official did not exerted effort to come manifested resistant to work hand-in-hand with the provincial board.
According to Sison, PSU has nine campuses throughout Pangasinan and roughly has 50,000 student population.
Exhibiting a different view, BM Liberato Villegas suggested that the august body to invite Buted once again in another venue other than the question hour.
“Pwede naman natin lutasin ang problema ng hindi dito saquestion hour,” he said as he hinted for a diplomatic approach in dealing with the PSU OJT mess.
In the end, Vice Governor Calimlim said a “collegial decision” of the board must be met that will benefit both parties.
By Dexter A. See
