DepEd: Opening of classes in EMBO schools ‘smooth, orderly’

The opening of classes in some public schools affected by the territorial dispute between the cities of Makati and Taguig has been going well so far, according to the Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Cesar Bringas, who made rounds in the schools located in the EMBO barangays on Tuesday morning, said that it was like the usual school opening for both students and teachers.

“Maganda naman, smooth ang kanilang opening. Parang it’s the usual opening day natin — may mga late enrollees, meron nang mga nasa loob ng paaralan, but all the teachers, all the learners are well in place naman sila sa schools,” he said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(The opening of classes was good and smooth. It seems like the usual opening day — there are late enrollees, there are those already inside the school. But all the teachers, all the learners are well in place in the schools.)

“No problem, whatsoever. They're doing fine,” he added.

DepEd’s Office of the Secretary, headed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, has assumed authority over the 14 public schools affected by the Supreme Court decision on the Makati-Taguig row, pending a transition plan on the matter.

Based on a department order dated August 16, DepEd recognized the “increasing tension” brought about by the ruling to the schools, causing “uncertainty as to the peaceful and orderly reopening of schools on August 29, 2023.”

Bringas said no principals in the affected schools were replaced, while the students have already received their school supplies both from the Taguig and Makati local government units.

He also said that there are no prescribed uniforms for the learners, thus they could wear either those provided by Makati or Taguig, or wear them alternately.

“Ang atin naman sa [for us in] DepEd, if these are given to our learners for free, then we will not refuse them. Our learners will gladly accept them,” he added. —KBK/VBL, GMA Integrated News