14 EMBO schools now under Taguig-Pateros Schools Division

THE Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday said the city governments of Taguig and Makati have agreed to an orderly transition of 14 schools located in the Enlisted Men’s Barrio (EMBO) barangays whose jurisdiction was transferred to the former following a Supreme Court (SC) decision on the two town’s territorial squabble.

In a statement, the DepEd said Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano and Makati Mayor Abigail Binay have signed a memorandum of agreement that paved the way for the “full transition of the public schools’ operations from Makati to Taguig beginning January 1, 2024.”

“In the said agreement, the Schools Division of Taguig-Pateros will now manage and operate the 14 schools,” the DepEd said.

The 14 schools are the Makati Science High School, Comembo Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Pembo Elementary School, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino High School, Tibagan High School, Fort Bonifacio Elementary School, Fort Bonifacio High School, Pitogo Elementary School, Pitogo High School, Cembo Elementary School East, West Rembo Elementary School, and the South Cembo Elementary School.

The DepEd said that while there are still specific issues and appeals left to the final determination of authorities, the transition has been “finally concluded through the collective resolve of the parties in ensuring the unhampered delivery of basic education services.”

Last year, the DepEd central office placed under its direct authority the 14 schools in the EMBO barangays to diffuse the tension between Taguig and Makati.

The order issued by Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte superseded an earlier order issued by DepEd-NCR Director Wilfredo Cabral stating that the said schools were under the management of the Taguig-Pateros Schools Division.

Duterte said then that her office shall supervise the management and administration of the said schools, pending a transition plan.

What snapped the already tense situation in the EMBO areas was Taguig city’s taking over of the public schools, citing the SC ruling, while Makati insisted that Taguig should have waited for a court-issued writ of execution before doing such a move.

To recall, the High Court affirmed with finality last