Tabuk City, Kalinga - The Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture approved on Monday, October 25, the measure separating Balbalan Agricultural and Industrial School-Balbalan Proper Extension from its mother school, thus, converting it into an independent school to be known as Eastern Balbalan National High School.
Said measure was proposed under House Bill 586, authored by Kalinga Representative Allen Jesse Mangaoang.
Senator Imee Marcos supported said House Bill through Senate Bill No. 1601.
BAIS-Balbalan Proper Extension Overview
In his presentation during the public hearing on October 25, 2021, Congressman Mangaoang narrated that BAIS-Balbalan Proper Extension started operating in 2010 with 22 high school freshmen from Balbalan Proper and Barangay Maling.
The extension school which is 6 kilometers away from its mother school is considered by the solon as ‘highly mountainous, rugged terrain’ the reason why he requested the Department of Education (DepEd) to come up with a separate extension school when he was still the mayor in said municipality.
DepEd Regional Director Estella Cariño revealed that the school was then ‘using makeshift classrooms but through the initiative of Congressman, there is already a 4-classroom concrete building which is already complete and is ready to be turned over to DepEd.’
According to the solon, four of the teachers serving at the extension school came from the mother barangay, while the two others are from a regular national high school near Balbalan.
At present, BAIS-Balbalan Proper Extension is accommodating Grades 7-10 with more than 350 students coming from two barangays in Balbalan and another three barangays from the adjoining Municipality of Pasil.
Why separate and convert BAIS-Balbalan Proper Extension into an independent high school?
“With the conversion of BAIS-Balbalan Proper Extension into an independent high school, the capability of the school as a catalyst of change will be boosted. It will have its own budget, a necessity for it to continue to develop and enhance the knowledge and skills of its growing clientele. With a more enlightened citizenry, the hope for a more peaceful and progressive community becomes a reality,” said Congressman Mangaoang during the public hearing.
Upon certifying the completeness of requirements, the committee's approved House Bill 586 and Senate Bill 1601 will be submitted to the Plenary for further discussion.
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