Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23) — Mayor Abby Binay on Wednesday said Makati has secured approval from Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to distribute school supplies to students of 14 public schools entangled in its territorial dispute with Taguig.
In a statement, Binay said more than 45,000 students will “immediately” get free school supplies as classes start 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 Usec. Michael Wesley Poa formally sent a letter to Binay for the approval, which includes “the use of school facilities in the distribution of the supplies.” To recall, the mayors of Taguig and Makati had disagreements on the matter, with the former allegedly refusing to accept the free school supplies.
READ: Binay fires back, says Taguig told Makati to just donate school supplies to calamity victims
Meanwhile, under its Project FREE (Free Relevant and Excellent Education), the supplies will be provided to public school students from kinder to senior high school, including special education students.
For kinder pupils:
– school bags
– caps
– anti-dengue kits
For elementary students:
– a pair of black leather shoes
– three pairs of white socks
– Randoseru bags (Grades 1 and 4)
– dengue kits
– school supplies consisting of 10 pieces of notebooks, five sets of intermediate pads, and five pieces each of ballpens and pencils
For junior and senior high school students:
– black shoes and socks
– the same school supplies package given to elementary students, with a Math Graphing notebook added
– Grades 11 and 12 students will also get a jacket with hoodie.
For SPED students:
– school supplies package
– school uniforms
– leather shoes
– three pairs of socks
– anti-dengue kits for elementary SPED.
The 14 public schools located in the 10 barangays affected by the row are the following:
– 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
– Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School
– Tibagan High School
– Fort Bonifacio High School
– Pitogo High School
Binay also took her frustration to Facebook, claiming that there was a “last-minute attempt” to halt the distribution despite the written authority from the DepEd.
“Namigay nga kayo ng walang written authority, wala kayong narinig sa amin. Pinapasok kayo sa loob ng eskuwelahan at namigay ng inyong mga gamit ng walang problema,” the Makati mayor said, referring to the Taguig government’s own distribution of school supplies to EMBO barangays on Tuesday.
[Translation: You gave no written authority, yet you heard nothing from us. You were allowed inside the school and handed out your supplies without any problem.]
“Ngayon may last minute attempt pa kayong ipatigil ang distribution. Akala ko ba kapakanan ng mga bata ang importante?” Binay said.
[Translation: Now you have a last-minute attempt to stop the distribution. I thought the welfare of the children was important?]
