Mayor calls for 'personality check' on donor-foundation
Invoking the spirit and sense of accountability and transparency, Barotac Nuevo Mayor Hernan Biron called for a "legality and personality" check on a donor-foundation.
Established government partners in the Department of Education's (DepEd) Adopt-A-School Program,Biron through the town's legal counsel, Buenas Aires Celi Dela Cruz issued three requirements for the Valera-Araneta Foundation Incorporated.
Founders of the Valera-Araneta group are behind a comprehensive educational assistance package to five elementary schools in Barotac Nuevo.The Aranetas are amongst the respected clans of said town with a long list of its family members once in government service.
Biron's latest move came amidst the renewed call of the foundation for an audience with the mayor if only to clarify the extent of the foundation's help on beneficiary-schools.
Addressed to foundation president Eileen Zshornack-Araneta, the letter began to extend its "warmest gratitude" on the foundation's adovacy.
This, Legal Officer Dela Cruz stressed alongside the town's awareness "that the above advocacy is in pursuant to Republic Ac 8525, more popularly known as the Adopt-A-School program of the Department of Education."
Yet, the letter continued, submission of foundation papers are necessary so the municipality "is assured of the legality and personality of your corporation."
The needed proofs are Articles of Incorporation of the foundation, Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the DepEd and "updated" General Information Sheet.
Araneta upon receipt of the letter complied thereafter alongside the renewed request for an audience.
"I hope you can spare me a little of your time...," the letter a copy of which was obtained by The News Today (TNT)."I would like to agree a way forward with your good office and hopefully come to an agreement on how we can work together to make this project a success, not for our foundation, but sincerely, for the communities concerned.This is our simple dream and nothing more."
Araneta in an earlier letter to Biron clarified the foundation's purpose in offering its help.
"We would like to state, first and foremost, that it is our family's fervent desire to work with the local government under your leadership in uplifting the quality education besetting the public school system in barangays.This is a serious, pressing concern in our country and Barotac Nuevo schools are no exception.It was unfortunate that we were not able to express this properly in our last meeting.We are therefore writing your good office to clarify any misconception you may have regarding our intentions," the letter then went.
Five focus-areas were identified by the foundation – teaching aids and textbooks, building repairs, teacher training, supplementary morning feeding and a values formation program for parents.
Araneta went ahead to lay down extent of help programmed for the beneficiary-schools.
"It is not our intention to upset or duplicate any effort of the local government in the schools.Based on the RA 8525, a school can have MOAs with more than one party, to ensure that they are able to cover all resource gaps... Should there be any specific project of the local government in these same areas for this coming school year, we would gladly realign our efforts to ensure no duplication," the foundation assured.