Despite the ongoing dispute between the local governments of Makati and Taguig, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday, Aug. 29, said that the opening of classes in the concerned schools went “smoothly” and “orderly.”
“Generally, the opening was very smooth and very orderly,” DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Cesar Bringas told reporters during his visit to the East Rembo Elementary School.
He added that there were no “untoward incidents” and that “all the agreements between the two superintendents have been carried out.”
Stakeholders in the 14 schools caught in the Makati-Taguig row were concerned about the school opening before DepEd stepped in and intervened by assuming authority in these schools.
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“You can see the excitement in the eyes of the learners, parents, and teachers,” Bringas observed.
During his school visits, Bringas noted that the classes in the concerned schools “were in place” and that class sizes were “within the ideal ratio for the classes.”
Transition team updates
As part of DepEd’s authority over the 14 schools, it also created a Transition Committee to oversee the preparation of a physical inventory of all properties involved; collate transition documents including, but not limited to, a complete list of existing contracts involving the operations of the subject schools; and create a Final Transition Plan.
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https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/18/dep-ed-urged-to-include-teachers-in-makati-taguig-transition-team
Bringas mentioned that the team has formed 14 inventory teams. These teams will be responsible for determining property ownership and cataloging items within the 14 schools.
These schools include Makati Science High School, Comembo Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Pembo Elementary School, Benigno “Ninoy” S. 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.
Starting Aug. 30, Bringas said that the Transition Team will be going around the 14 schools to “start the inventory.”
Students, teachers’ welfare a priority
Amid the ongoing feud between the two local governments, DepEd maintained that it remains neutral and will support initiatives that will benefit the learners and the teachers in the concerned schools.
“If these are given to the students for free, then we will not refuse them,” Bringas said, referring to school-related items distributed by the LGUs of Makati and Taguig.
“Our learners will gladly accept them because they will be helpful in their everyday classes,” he added.
“For as long as they are for the benefit of our learners and they are in the best interest of our learners and teachers in the department, then we will not refuse these opportunities,” he added.
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