Private schools nix ‘No permit, no exam’ bill

PRIVATE educational institutions have slammed a proposed law banning enforcement of the “no permit, no exam” policy, saying it could be tantamount to a death warrant of the private education sector.

They implored lawmakers to reconsider passage passage of the bill that would subsequently compromise their financial viability, force them to cut corners in their operations, and cause systemic damage to the private education sector.

In separate statements, the industry players expressed their collective outrage and indignation over the congressional bills that seek to ban the policy and asked that lawmakers listened to them as well.

The oppositors consisted of COCOPEA’s member-organizations -- the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU), Association of Christian Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ACSCU), Philippine Association of Private Schools, College, and Universities (PAPSCU), Unified TVET of the Philippines Inc. (UniTVET) – as well as the Association of Private School Administrators – Division of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga (APSA), the Davao Association of Private Schools and Administrators (DAPRISA), the Federation of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators (FAPSA), and the National Alliance of Private Schools Philippines (NAPSPHIL).

FIERY TEST RUN BY SPEEDBOAT. The Philippine Coast Guard responds to a speedboat on fire while on trial run off Zamboanga City, causing threedegree burns to its three-man crew. The craft eventual sank after the test run from a beach in Baliwasan to Zamboanga City. PCG photo

Moratillo quoted Cataroja as saying he timed his escape during the visit of outsiders to the maximum security prison.

“Casual lang daw siyang lumabas doon sa maxium security. Sumabay siya sa dalaw po. Kasi po araw daw ng dalaw,” Moratillo said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

Cataroja claimed he was also able to copy the mark stamped on visitors with just a ballpen.

“Ang ginamit niya ay ballpen na luma. Pinag aralan niya, in short, ‘yung kilos, ‘yung galaw tapos ang sabi niya naghanap siya ng taong kasing sukat niya, kasing body build niya so that ‘yung pangalan gumawa na lang siya,” Lt. Gen Rhoderick Armamento, South Luzon police commander, said in a separate interview.

LAND DISPUTE NOT GAME OVER YET.

Three kids watch a game on their mobile phone while sitting on the curb next to a tarpaulin signage saying the Pitogo Elementary School in the backdrop still belongs to the Makati City despite a Supreme Court ruling issued a December 2021 proclaiming the Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation and the ten barangays of Makati City’s District 2 are part of Taguig City. Danny Pata

DepEd: Classes start Aug. 29 in EMBO schools

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Department of Education (DepEd) gave assurance that the August 29 opening of classes will push through in the 14 “EMBO” public schools caught in the territorial tug-of-war between Makati and Taguig cities.

“Yes, of course, precisely,” DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas said in a GMA News interview.

The Taguig City government has stated that jurisdiction over the Enlisted Men’s Barrios (EMBO) areas, previously part of Makati City, does not require a writ of execution.

On the other hand, Makati Mayor Abigail Binay said Taguig has not secured a writ of execution for the SC ruling favoring Taguig in their dispute, as it would guide their jurisdiction implementation.

Meanwhile, the Philippines National Police (PNP) said it would work on maintaining peace and order amid the ongoing territorial row between Makati and Taguig “Kaya tayo nag-assume ng authority over these schools para ma-assure ang ating mga parents at mag-aaral na tuloy pa rin ang pago-open natin sa August 29 in the 14 schools,” he added. Based on a department order, DepEd recognized the “increasing tension” brought about by the Supreme Court ruling on the Makati-Taguig land dispute to the schools, causing “uncertainty as to the peaceful and orderly reopening of schools on August 29, 2023.”

The DepEd said that the Office of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, would directly supervise the schools, pending a transition plan on the matter.

In 2021, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that the Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation was part of Taguig. The SC had denied Makati’s motion for reconsideration in 2022 and 2023 on the issue.