The teaching staff of Sicsican National High School – Annex welcomed its rebirth into a full-fledge high school called Santa Monica National High School courtesy of Republic Act (RA) 11174 that was approved by Congress on January 3, 2019.
Jabel Nuñala, Head Teacher III and OIC of Santa Monica High School, said their autonomy will speed things up and make the operations more efficient, particularly in the release of budget.
“Ang kagandahan nitong Republic Act 11174 na nagsasabing ihihiwalay na ang Santa Monica [High School] sa Sicsican [National High School], in the history of [being] an annex of Sicsican, nakikihingi kami ng subsidy, ng budget, sa Sicscian. Yung budget ng school, nakikiamot kami sa Sicsican. Kung meron kaming mga kailangang bilhin o kaya may kailangan kaming pondohan, nagre-request pa kami sa Sicsican [National High School],” he said.
He added, “Lahat ng aming mga personnel, yung DepEd personnel ng Santa Monica, nakakabit pa at nakaplantilya pa doon sa Sicsican. Through this Republic Act, inatasan doon ang DepEd na ihiwalay ang Santa Monica sa Sicsican. Which means, lahat ng mga teachers na nakakabit sa plantilya ng Sicsican, ay siya nang magiging plantilya ng Santa Monica High School.”
Nuñala said that in requesting for budget from the Sicsican National High School, they usually had to wait for about 2 months before it would be approved and transferred to their school.
“Magle-letter kami [kung] ano yung gusto naming hingiin, ia-attach namin doon yung aming project proposal, then aaprobahan pa yun ng accounting ng Sicsican, with the approval of their principal also. Pag naaprobahan yun, siguro it will take 2 months bago ibibigay sa amin yung budget,” he said.
He added, “Sa pamamagitan ng batas na ito, maia-apply na rin ng Santa Monica High School ang pagiging Implementing Unit niya. Pag sinabi nating Implementing Unit or IU, eto ay magre-request kami sa DBM na direktang i-download ang pondo mula sa DBM papunta sa Santa Monica High School. Hindi na dadaan ang aming budget sa region at Puerto Princesa division office ng DepEd.”
As Santa Monica High School will now have its own budget, Nuñala expressed excitement at how they would develop their campus and produce better graduates.
“Kaabang-abang ang Santa Monica High School dahil nagkaroon na tayo ng sariling pondo. Kung makikita niyo ngayon, nags-start na tayo ng ating concrete fence ng paaralan. After niyan, magkakaroon ng landscaping, ipapasemento ang buong ground ng Santa Monica High School. Magkakaroon din ng building na itatayo din na 2-storey, 6-classroom funded by DepEd, and hopefully, by March or April, itatayo ang 5M worth na covered gym [na] proyekto ni Congressman Gil Acosta,” he said.
Nuñala also stated that the conversion of the school into an independent national high school is also a privilege for the students.
“Kapag meron na tayong pambili ng ating mga equipment [para sa] laboratories, pag meron na tayong pambayad ng ating mga bills, hindi na mahihirapan ang Santa Monica at agad-agad naipapaabot ang blessings o biyaya na ito sa mga estudyante. For example, may mga competitions ang mga bata, if they need a certain fund para pondohan yung mga competitions na yan, naibibigay agad natin because may sarili tayong pondo,” he said.
He added, “Asahan natin ang development at progress ng mga studyante pagdating sa academics kasi once na masuportahan mo yan financially, maibigay mo yung mga kakailanganing aids para sa pag-aaral nila, it will help a lot para sa kanilang academic performance. Of course, we will be able to meet all the competencies and standards set by the Department of Education for us.”
He also added that it would not only be a privilege for the students, it can also be a benefit to the teachers.
“As well as the professional growth and development of our teachers. Syempre, may sarili ka nang budget. Yung ating mga annual activities na ginagawa for professional enhancement like seminars, trainings, mapopondohan at maibibigay natin ng maayos. And of course, mga reimbursement for the different travels and allowances ng teacher pag lumalabas at magse-seminar,” he explained.
“Unlike before, kapag may available na seminar, hindi sila mag-attend kasi walang pondo. Pero pag may sarili na tayong pondo, dahil sa batas na paghihiwalay sa atin, pag may trainings sa Manila o kung saan man, may mare-reimburse na travel,” he further explained.
He also stated that they will start receiving their own budget in a matter of year, as soon as they will be included in the General Appropriations Act. As of now, they’re still asking for assistance from the Sicsican National High School and from the parents, who have been contributing for the school’s bills such as water and electricity bills, and for the payment of their security guards.
“For this current year, bibigyan pa kami ng Sicsican, until such time na ma-include na kami sa general appropriation act for budgeting ng DBM,” he said.
Nuñala also explained that in RA 11174, the name mentioned is “Santa Monica National High School,” but they are referred to as “Santa Monica High School,” as DepEd has issued an order that newly established public high schools starting in 2018 will not have the word “national” in its name as it is understood that it’s a national high school.
“Meron kasing DepEd order na pinalabas ang DepEd na lahat ng mga high schools starting school year 2018 na newly established ay hindi na tatawaging ‘national’. Bagkus, high school [na] automatic. Kung makikita natin sa batas, Santa Monica National High School pa siya, pero dahil doon nga sa DepEd order, magiging Santa Monica High School nalang siya,” he said.
“Pag sinabi nating public schools, automatic na siya na national yan, DepEd yan. So tinanggal na yung salitang ‘national’. Sa lahat ng mga schools ngayon [na] secondary ay aalisin na yung word na national,” he further said.
Nuñala also mentioned that the Santa Monica High School is extending their gratitude to the people who have worked hand in hand to have RA 11174 approved in the Congress.
“Itong House Bill 11174, two years ago, ay ipinasa sa lower house ni Congressman Gil Acosta. Sa awa ng Diyos, in two years na pakikibaka niya, kasama ng mga kasamahan niya sa kongreso ay finally, last January 3, it was already approved by the president ng congress,” he said.