Noy signs laws creating new schools

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino has approved several local bills creating 15 new schools.

Republic Acts 10829 to 10843, which the President signed on May 11, were published in a national daily yesterday.

Three of the new laws mandate the establishment of a national science high school in Pasay City and a national high school in Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur and Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Three measures converted elementary schools in Iloilo City, Mandaluyong and Muntinlupa into integrated schools while another converted a high school in Sorsogon into a national high school.

A national high school in the town of Sadanga and in Natonin in Mountain Province were converted into national technical-vocational high schools.

The other laws separated annex schools from the national high schools in Sangay, Camarines Sur; Tulungatung and Pasonanca in Zamboanga City; Quezon, Palawan; Digos, Davao del Sur and Parañaque City.

The Department of Education (DepEd) is mandated to include the operationalization of the new schools in its program.

It is the policy of DepEd to establish independent national high schools, said Secretary Armin Luistro.

Luistro said the move aims to strengthen the administration of schools and is part of preparations for the implementation of the senior high school program.