Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 16) — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. has appointed a fifth deputy director general to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), a move that violates the law, senators said Tuesday.
The TESDA Act of 1994 states that the President shall appoint two deputies to assist the director general on recommendation of the TESDA Board.
Citing this law, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, who previously served as TESDA chief, raised concern over the designation of another deputy director general, whose name he did not disclose. He said he obtained a copy of the appointment paper dated Oct. 6.
Even Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma “was shocked” about the appointment, meaning he was not consulted even as chairman of the TESDA board, Villanueva said.
“What pains me a lot, Mr. President, is that the Secretary of TESDA says they don’t know what to do with the appointment because they don’t know ano pagagawang trabaho (what job to give). This is a bad narrative, Mr. President,” Villanueva said during the late-night Senate deliberations on TESDA’s budget.
The senators then suspended the rule that prohibits resource persons to take the floor during plenary sessions, allowing TESDA Director General Danilo Cruz to explain.
Cruz said while the law provides for only two plantilla positions for deputy director general, the previous administration increased it to four, “so when we assumed the position a few months ago, we submitted the application for four deputy directors general.”
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said this itself is a violation of the law, adding two new positions without amending the charter.
Cruz said this has become a common practice among government institutions, but Zubiri stressed the practice does not make it legal.
“We’ll point this out to the proper leadership all the way up to the President if need be. Sorry na lang ‘yung matamaan na iba,” Zubiri said. “I’m surprised no one has questioned that yet with the Supreme Court.”
In the meantime, Cruz said TESDA is considering making the new official a “deputy director general for special concerns,” joining the others who handle programs, operations, administration and finance, and legislative matters.
