School renamed without following 'procedure '

By Maricar M. Calubiran

Councilor Erlinda Liberiaga

Officials of the Iloilo City National High School Calaparan extension has changed the name of the school to Melchor L. Nava High School without awaiting the approval of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Councilor Erlinda Liberiaga, chair of the committee on education of the Sangguniang Panlungsod said her committee is still on the process of inquiring the procedure in the renaming of schools.

She said the proposal to change the name of the school was referred to her committee on May 18, 2005.

To their surprise when they visited the school recently renamed.

Nava is a former city councilor who has been responsible for the creation of the Calaparan extension school and the Calaparan Elementary School.

Liberiaga noted that Dr. Victor Tirol, regional director of the Department of Education have issued confusing views on the renaming of the school.

She said in principle, Tirol already gave a signal to rename the school. However, in his communication before the school board, Tirol is not amenable for the renaming but only for the separation of the extension school from the Iloilo City National High School.

In last Wednesday's session, the committee should have passed a resolution to the effect. However, because of the legal questions that may crop up, the committee decided to refer the matter to the City Legal Office under Atty. Edgar Gil.

The committee is still in quandary on whether the city council can proceed with their proposal to rename the school even without the DepEd's approval or the DepEd could change the name of the school without the approval or resolution from the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

“I have no objection only that it should follow the proper procedures,” said Liberiaga.