TAV Dismissal ‘Political’, Councilor Says

“Political reprisal” was what Talisay City Councilor Dennis Basillote described to the termination of at least 60 Teacher Aide Volunters (TAV) who were teaching at the city’s public schools.

“The TAVs were just victims of political reprisal. Ambot lang og unsa’y huna-huna sa bag-ong administrasyon. Kung ako ang pangutan-on, ang pag-terminate nila ka’y aduna’y color sa politika,” Basillote said. Basillote, who chairs the Council Committee on Education, said if the new administration wants its power felt in all levels, it should not compromise the basic services, especially education.

He said several classes in public schools are affected by this move, which took effect last month following the order of Mayor Johnny delos Reyes.

Delos Reyes terminated the TAVs, who were applying for national items at the Department of Education, for alleged “mid-night appointees” of former administration.

Some of these TAVs have been teaching for Talisay City, at P8,000 per month, and were hoping to get hired in the national level to get a stable item.

It was city legal officer Alfredo Sipalay, in a memorandum, who informed Talisay City Division Supt. Woodrow Denuyo that TAVs hired from May and June this year can no longer continue their services because they are midnight appointees and it is “not acceptable to the new administration.”

“As we agreed upon, all the TAV hired in May and June 2013 will be terminated from their jobs effective today, September 27, 2013,” Sipalay said.

Meanwhile, Basillote said he is planning to seek the help of Denuyo and DepEd7 Director Carmelita Dulangon to resolve the problem.