Binay: Makati-Taguig school feud an issue of ownership

MANILA, Philippines — The ongoing feud between the local governments of Makati and Taguig over the 14 schools affected by their territorial dispute is an issue of ownership, Makati Mayor Abby Binay said yesterday.

Taguig is claiming ownership over the schools that were once under the jurisdiction of Makati, but has yet to present a writ of execution for the Supreme Court (SC) ruling that favored Taguig in their dispute, Binay said.

“The Taguig government has yet to secure a writ of execution. It is in there where its responsibilities are outlined,” Binay said in a radio interview.

She said the SC only tackled territorial jurisdiction and nowhere in the decision stated that the ownership of properties in the disputed area will be transferred to Taguig.

“We procured the properties, by sale. How come they would be the owner of those properties by virtue of the SC decision?” Binay said.

The Makati mayor said the public schools, which the city government earlier claimed that Taguig attempted to “forcibly take,” were on land procured by Makati using city funds, and not from the budget of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Even the school buildings were built using Makati funds, she added.

Binay said the DepEd memorandum order that Taguig was citing for its takeover only pertained to the teachers, not the school buildings, as DepEd did not own the buildings.

The memorandum order stated that the management and supervision of the schools was transferred from the DepEd Division of Makati to the Division of Taguig and Pateros.

Binay said she is willing to allow Taguig to use the buildings, but there should be just compensation. She said she could lease some of the buildings to Taguig, but not all since it would mean a lack of school buildings for Makati.

Binay also denied claims that the city government is refusing to cooperate in the transition of the 10 disputed barangays that were previously under Makati to Taguig.

Taguig allegedly rejected Makati’s offer to continue providing school supplies and uniforms to around 30,000 students.

The rejection reportedly happened in a July meeting wherein Binay, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano and DepEd officials were present.

Binay said Cayetano was “evasive” on the amount of benefits that her city could provide for the students affected by the SC ruling.

Binay said she has sought the help of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to resolve the issue.

Taguig: Makati ignored data request

The Makati City government ignored requests for data necessary for the planning for the 14 schools in the disputed “embo” barangays, the Taguig City government said yesterday.

Taguig issued the remark as it said Makati city administrator Claro Cereza is “lying to the public” when he claimed that Taguig rejected Makati’s offer to continue to provide free supplies in schools located in “embo” barangays or enlisted men’s barrios.

“The belated announcement, made in time for the start of the academic year, is maliciously calculated to portray Taguig as an uncaring city,” Taguig said in a statement.

“Taguig requested Makati to provide the data pertaining to the number of students per grade level, number of city-hired school employees, types of benefits given to students and teachers, and other relevant information necessary for planning for the schools in embo,” the city government said.

“Unfortunately, Makati simply ignored our request,” it added.

Taguig claimed that during the meeting in July, Binay had threatened to close down the 14 schools unless Taguig paid for the cost of the school buildings or paid rent for their use.

Cayetano, during the meeting, said the issue of ownership or reimbursement should be deferred, saying the focus should be the coming Brigada Eskwela and the opening of the school year.