Makati accuses Taguig of 'last minute' attempt to halt distribution

MANILA (UPDATE) — The local government of Makati City is set to give out school supplies to public school students in its 10 former barangays that have since been transferred to Taguig, Mayor Abby Binay said Wednesday.

In a statement, Binay said Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte approved her request to give school supplies to 45,000 students attending 14 public schools within Fort Bonifacio—Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Pitogo, Rizal, Northside, and Southside—even after the Supreme Court ruled that Makati no longer has jurisdiction of the said barangays.

• It's final: Supreme Court says Taguig has jurisdiction over BGC

Binay said the approval of her request was a "relief" not only for her government, but also for the "thousands of affected students and their parents who have been anxiously waiting and hoping for the favorable resolution" of the decades-long dispute between Makati and Taguig Cities over control of The Fort.

“Finally, we will be able to carry out this annual tradition and ensure that the students will be ready on school opening,” Binay said.

Public schools affected by the dispute—all of which were built by the Makati City government—include 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

Students of the said schools would receive school uniforms, bags, leather shoes, notebooks, intermediate pads, ballpens, and pencils, among others. The aid would cover students from kindergarten to senior high school, including those enrolled in special education (SPED) programs.

The local government of Taguig had also given out school supplies to students from the said barangays as public schools nationwide prepare for the opening of School Year 2023-2024 scheduled next Monday, Aug. 29.

• Taguig LGU namahagi ng school supplies sa 'Embo' barangays

The affected schools had been placed under the direct supervision of the Department of Education (DepEd) while a transition process was in place to transfer them to Taguig City's control.

• DepEd won't wade into Makati-Taguig school ownership row

SABOTAGE?

In a Facebook post, Mayor Abby Binay said there was a "last minute attempt" from the Taguig government to halt distribution even if they have written authority to do so.

Binay said Taguig does not fight fairly.

"Namigay nga kayo ng walang written authority (school supplies), wala kayong narinig sa amin. Pinapasok kayo sa loob ng eskwelahan at namigay ng inyong mga gamit ng walang problema," the mayor said.

"Ngayon may last minute attempt pa kayong ipatigil ang distribution. Akala ko ba kapakanan ng mga bata ang importante?"

ABS-CBN News has sought the comment of the Taguig local government through its public information office regarding this, but it has yet to respond as of this story's posting.

But in a statement on Tuesday, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano vowed to distribute school supplies to public school students in her city, including those belonging in the "EMBO" areas.

She also launched the Lifeline Assistance for Neighbors In-need (LANI) Scholarship Program to students in the 10 new barangays in their care, which will be open to all and not only to the 10 percent of the graduating class.

"More than the material things na itu-turn over, ang presence po natin ngayon ay testament sa kahandaan nating lahat to really support our learners, to really support their dreams and aspirations in life, and to do our best to show them that we are ready to cooperate—handa tayong magkaisa pag ang pinag-usapan ay ang kanilang future,” she said.

— Raffy Cabristante and Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

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