President Marcos has signed laws establishing the Baguio City Sports High School and Baguio City High School for the Arts.
Under Republic Act No. 12119, the government shall establish the Baguio City Sports High School that shall offer sports-focused education.
The law stated that the State "shall establish, maintain, and support a comprehensive and integrated system of education and training to encourage interest in sports among the youth, hone their athletic talents and skills, and promote the development of young athletes nationwide."
The school shall be administered and supervised by the Department of Education (DepEd), in close coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the National Academy of Sports (NAS).
Under the law, the school shall implement a general secondary education, as prescribed by Republic Act No. 10533, or the "Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013", to learners with considerable potential in sports.
The curriculum shall have significant emphasis on developing the athletic skills of the learners through subjects pertaining to physical education and sports, it added.
Its initial funding shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the Schools Division Office of Baguio City, while its continued operation shall be included in the annual national budget. The DepEd Secretary was directed to immediately include the operationalization of the sports high school in the department's program.
The creation of the Baguio City Sports High School was approved by Marcos on Jan. 3.
On the same day, the President also approved the establishment of the Baguio City High School for the Arts which is intended to "promote the sustained development of young Filipinos whose aptitude and skills in culture and the arts shall be properly encouraged and honed through education and specialized training programs."
Under Republic Act No. 12118, the state shall establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education and training to encourage the artistic talent and cultural aptitude of the Filipino youth and support their development.
The Arts-centered school shall be administered and supervised by DepEd, in close coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
The law stated that the NCCA and the CCP shall provide policy direction and technical assistance to the school through the DepEd Cordillera Administrative Region Regional Office and the Schools Division Office of Baguio City.
It shall also implement a general secondary education curriculum to learners, with considerable potential in the arts. The curriculum shall have significant emphasis on developing the talent, skill, and exceptional giftedness of learners, thereby nurturing potential artists while preserving and promoting Filipino heritage.
The school's initial funding shall also be charged against this year's appropriation of the Schools Division Office of Baguio City.