DepEd denies Makati’s request to manage 3 Embo schools

Inquirer files

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has denied Makati City’s request to manage three schools under the Enlisted Men’s Barrios (Embo) barangays.

These three schools include Makati Science High School, Fort Bonifacio Elementary School, and Fort Bonifacio High School, based on Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay’s request dated August 29 and 31 last year.

READ: Binay to DepEd: Let Makati keep 3 ‘Embo’ schools

In response, DepEd Undersecretary for Operations Revsee Escobedo “underscored the lack of legal basis for Makati‘s unprecedented request,” as stated in his letter addressed to Binay.

According to the letter, Escobedo “found Makati’s request to be without legal merit and, if granted, would contravene both the 1987 Constitution and the Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001, which provide that governance of basic education is a national government mandate.”

Citing Makati’s request, the letter said the city government claimed that “the ownership of the lots and the school buildings unambiguously remains to them and its supposed unquestionable capability to manage the aforementioned schools.”

This was, however, opposed by Taguig City, pointing out that all public elementary and high schools are managed and operated by the national government through the DepEd or, in this case, the agency’s branch in Taguig-Pateros since the three schools are within its jurisdiction.

“The DepEd categorically pronounced that all Embo public schools fall under the jurisdiction of the National Government and, therefore, must be administered and managed by DepEd Taguig after the Supreme Court affirmed its 2021 decision, which declared that the City of Taguig has jurisdiction over BGC and the 10 Embo barangays,” the agency’s letter reads.

“The Supreme Court’s decision permanently enjoined Makati from exercising jurisdiction over, making improvements on, or otherwise treating as part of its territory these areas, which include the schools in question. The DepEd said that giving way to Makati’s legally infirm request would violate the Supreme Court’s decision and may invite the sanction of contempt for disobedience to the high court’s order,” it adds.

Moreover, the department discounted  Makati’s claim of academic reputation, saying that such “may not be considered as an adequate nor valid legal justification.”