By Joel E. Zurbano
The Department of Education (DepEd) gave its go signal to the Makati City government to distribute school supplies to over 45,000 students in 14 public elementary schools in the barangays now under the jurisdiction of Taguig City.
Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay thanked Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte for allowing her city to provide free uniforms, shoes, supplies, and other school needs to students in time for the opening of classes on Aug. 29.
“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,” she said.
Education Undersecretary Michael Wesley Poa formally informed Binay in a letter dated August 22, 2023, that the department had approved her request, including the use of school facilities for the delivery of the goods.
“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,” said Binay.
Under the city’s expanded Project FREE (Free Relevant and Excellent Education), public school students from kindergarten 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, a P.E shirt, and jogging pants. School bags, caps, and anti-dengue kits will also be given to kindergarten pupils.
Elementary students will 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 of intermediate pads, and five pieces each of a ballpoint pen 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. Students in grades 11 and 12 will also receive a jacket with a hoodie.
For Special Education students in elementary and high school, the local government will provide a school supply package, school uniforms, leather shoes, three pairs of socks, and anti-dengue kits for elementary SPED.
On Tuesday, the Taguig City government also started distributing free school supplies to the 14 public schools from the 10 Embo barangays that Makati City previously had control over.
Mayor Laarni Cayetano led the distribution of school materials to pupils at Pitogo High School and Upper Bicutan Elementary School. She also assured that the school premises are safe and ready for the students and teachers who will be returning to campus.
The 14 public schools consist of Fort Bonifacio Elementary School, Cembo Elementary School, South Cembo Elementary School, Pitogo Elementary School, East Rembo Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Comembo Elementary School, West Rembo Elementary School, Pembo Elementary School, Makati Science High School, and Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School, Tibagan High School, Fort Bonifacio High School, and Pitogo High School.
These schools were transferred from the Department of Education’s Division of Makati City to the Division of Taguig-Pateros following a Supreme Court decision that ruled in favor of Taguig in the two cities’ territorial dispute.