Makati City Mayor Abby Binay on Wednesday, Aug. 23, announced that the Department of Education (DepEd) has approved Makati's request to distribute free school supplies to the students of the 14 public schools affected by the ongoing territorial rift between the city and the city of Taguig.
Binay said Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has approved her request to proceed with the distribution of free school supplies to over 45,000 students of the public schools located in the 10 barangays affected by the Supreme Court (SC) decision.
These schools are:
1. Fort Bonifacio Elementary School
2. Cembo Elementary School
3. South Cembo Elementary School
4. Pitogo Elementary School
5. East Rembo Elementary School
6. Rizal Elementary School
7. Comembo Elementary School
8. West Rembo Elementary School
9. Pembo Elementary School
10. Makati Science High School
11. Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School
12. Tibagan High School
13. Fort Bonifacio High School
14. Pitogo High School
“It is such a relief for the city government of Makati, but most especially for the thousands of affected students and their parents who have been anxiously waiting and hoping for the favorable resolution of the impasse with Taguig on this issue. Finally, we will be able to carry out this annual tradition and ensure that the students will be ready on school opening,” Binay said.
"Para ko na rin kayong mga anak. Kung ano ang naibibigay ko kay Martina, gusto kong maibigay din sa inyo. Kaya naman sinisuguro namin na dekalidad ang binibigay sa inyo. Mula sa school supplies, uniform at kahit ang inyong mga field trip (I consider all of you as my children, hence, I want to give to all of you the care and things I'm giving my daughter Martina. We want to ensure that all school needs such as school supplies, uniforms, and even your field trips, are of high quality)," she added.
The city government explained that DepEd Undersecretary Michael Wesley Poa had sent a letter to the mayor dated Aug. 22, 2023, officially conveying the agency's approval of her request for permission to distribute various school supplies in the 14 public schools, in order to alleviate the financial burden on parents who would otherwise have to purchase new school supplies. This also includes the use of school facilities in the distribution of the supplies.
“On behalf of the city government and all the intended beneficiaries in the 14 public schools, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte. We are thankful that she has the best interest of the students at heart in making a prudent and just decision,” Binay said.
She added that with this development, the distribution of the said school supplies and other essentials will start Wednesday, Aug. 23, at Pembo Elementary School so that the students will have complete school supplies when classes begin on Aug. 29.
Under the expanded Project FREE (Free Relevant and Excellent Education), public school students from kinder to senior high school, including Special Education students in elementary and high school, receive school uniforms and supplies from the city. Students in all levels will each receive school uniforms and PE T-shirt and jogging pants. School bags, caps and dengue kits will also be given to Kinder pupils.
Elementary students will also each receive a pair of black leather shoes, three pairs of white socks, Randoseru bags (Grades 1 and 4), dengue kits, and school supplies consisting of 10 pieces of notebooks, five sets intermediate pads, and five pieces each of ballpen and pencil.
Junior and senior high school students will also receive black shoes and socks, and the same school supplies package given to elementary students, with a Math Graphing notebook added.
Grades 11 and 12 students will also get a jacket with hoodie.
For SPED students in elementary and high school, the city will provide school supplies package, school uniforms, leather shoes and three pairs of socks, and anti-dengue kits for elementary SPED.
On Aug. 16, DepEd issued Order No. 23, Series of 2023, or the "Assumption of Authority of the Department of Education over the 14 public schools affected by Supreme Court decision in G.R. No. 235316".
The agency said the order was issued following the increased tension between the two local government units (LGUs) regarding the management and supervision of the affected schools which poses uncertainty to the peaceful and orderly reopening of classes on Aug. 29.
"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." the order stated.
DepEd added that a transition team has already been created composed of the following:
- Regional Director (assigned outside of the National Capital Region)
- DepEd Schools Division Superintendent of Taguig-Pateros
- DepEd Schools Division Superintendent of Makati City
- City Legal Officer of Makati City
- City Legal Officer of Taguig
"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 (OSec)." It stressed.