EDUCATION Secretary Sara Duterte will directly supervise the administration of 14 elementary and secondary schools in the “EMBO” barangays included in the Supreme Court (SC) ruling on the boundary dispute between the cities of Makati and Taguig pending the implementation of the final transition plan to ensure a peaceful and orderly opening of classes on August 29.
In an order dated August 16, Duterte said the Department of Education (DepEd) is cognizant of the increasing tension in the 14 schools affected by the SC decision, which she noted has caused uncertainty to the orderly resumption of classes in the learning institutions.
“The subject schools are DepEd schools. Hence, in the pursuit of protecting the best interest and welfare of our learners, teachers and non-teaching personnel, the Office of the Secretary shall directly supervise the management and administration of all 14 schools pending a transition plan, effective immediately,” Duterte’s DepEd Order No. 023 said.
Covered schools are the Makati Science High School, Comembo Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Pembo Elementary School, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino High School, Tibagan High School, Fort Bonifacio Elementary School, Fort Bonifacio High School, Pitogo Elementary School, Pitogo High School, Cembo Elementary School, East Rembo Elementary School, West Rembo Elementary School, and South Cembo Elementary School.
Duterte also ordered the creation of a transition committee composed of the regional director (outside of the National Capital Region), the schools division superintendents of Taguig-Pateros and Makati and the legal officers of Taguig and Makati.
“Specifically, the transition committee shall cause the preparation of a physical inventory of all properties involved, collate transition documents, including but not limited to, existing contracts involving the operations of said schools, and create a final transition plan,” the order said.
It likewise said that during the transition period, “all activities to be conducted within the premises of and/or in relation to the subject public schools, including those from the local government units of Makati and Taguig, shall require prior approval from the Office of the Secretary.”
It also tasked the PNP to “ensure the strict implementation” of the order.
Makati Mayor Abigail Binay has earlier said she will seek clarification from Duterte on the memorandum issued by the DepEd-NCR transferring the management and supervision of public schools located in the EMBO barangays from the Makati school division to the Taguig-Pateros school division.
The SC Third Division has affirmed on September 28, 2022 its December 1, 2021 declaring that Taguig City has jurisdiction over the contested Fort Bonifacio property, which includes Parcels 3 and 4, comprising Fort Bonifacio, including the Inner Fort, which is comprised of Barangays Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo and Pitogo.
The Philippine Army headquarters, Navy installation, Marines’ headquarters, Consular area, Jusmag area, Heritage Park, Libingan ng mga Bayani, AFP Officers Village and the so-called six villages are situated in the said areas.
The High Court has issued an entry of judgement on the issue, making the ruling unappealable.
Binay welcomed the DepEd chief’s action, saying it will ease the concerns of parents, students, and even the teachers on the issue, especially with the opening of classes less than two weeks to go.
“We welcome the decision of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to take over the management and supervision of the 14 schools. This decision will greatly ease the worries and concerns of our students, parents and teachers. Kaisa kami ni Vice President Sara sa kanyang layunin. Unahin natin ang kapakanan ng ating mga guro, mga kabataan, at kanilang mga magulang (We are one with Vice President Sara in this. We should give priority to our teachers, students, and their parents),” Binay said.
Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano also welcomed Duterte’s order, saying this, including the creation of a transition committee without citing the need for a writ of execution, “puts an end to the issue and allows all parties to move forward for the benefit of the community.”
“With this, we fully expect that this will put an end to the constant stream of misleading public pronouncements that have been coming out, and which serves no other purpose than to create confusion and anxiety at a time when we should be calming the public,” Cayetano said.
