Makati turns over 14 schools to Taguig

MANILA, Philippines — The Makati government has officially turned over 14 public schools to Taguig amid the jurisdiction dispute between the two cities.

In a statement yesterday, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Makati Mayor Abby Binay and Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano signed an agreement with Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte for the “full transition of the public schools’ operations from Makati to Taguig beginning Jan. 1, 2024.”

The 14 schools, which have over 30,000 students and 1,500 teachers, are now under the jurisdiction of the Schools Division of Taguig-Pateros.

Schools turned over to Taguig are the Makati Science High School, Comembo Elementary School, Rizal ES, Pembo ES, Benigno Ninoy Aquino HS, Tibagan HS, Fort Bonifacio ES, Fort Bonifacio HS, Pitogo ES, Pitogo HS, Cembo ES, East Rembo ES, West Rembo ES and South Cembo ES.

The DepEd assumed authority over the schools in August 2023 after Makati accused Taguig of “forcibly attempting” to take over them following a Supreme Court decision.

In April last year, the high court ruled that Taguig has jurisdiction over the 729-hectare Bonifacio Global City and 10 barangays in Makati’s second district.