Belmonte discourages schools from inviting politician to rites
By Chito Chavez
Various school and youth celebrations drew widespread uproars after these events virtually turned into political campaign sorties with the aspirants seeking public office gracing the ceremonies.
Quezon City Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte. (Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN)
With mounting complaints, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte has revived her call to local public school officials not to invite political wannabes to any commencement or moving up ceremonies, especially in the months or weeks leading to the May 2019 midterm elections.
As the upcoming election season nears, Belmonte said those running for public office would naturally compete for a chance to appear and speak in public events such as schools’ graduation ceremonies.
“Perhaps our local Division (Schools Division Office Quezon City) can consider this in order to maintain order and fairness in 2019 graduation ceremonies,” Belmonte said.
“I have suggested this to our Division Superintendent several times: those who are running for public office are not allowed to speak in order to avoid politicking. They can only attend and be recognized,” she added.
Belmonte said this issue was raised to her by DepEd regional directors.
Quoting the DepEd officials, she said that in the provinces, public schools invite credible, non-politicians “who are really inspiring to the youth” to be keynote speakers, instead of politicians.
“I always thought we in the highly urbanized cities are more open-minded and progressive than our brothers and sisters in the provinces but apparently the reverse is true. Very impressive,” Belmonte noted.
Last April, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones reminded school officials to avoid making the graduation and moving up ceremonies as a venue for political forum.
While inviting politicians is not banned, Briones said commencement exercises should be conducted in an appropriate ceremony befitting the students and their parents.
Belmonte is now in a study tour in Australia to learn new programs and systems that will help improve the quality of education in the country.
The vice-mayor is the only delegate from a local government unit invited to participate in the week-long conference.