20/08/2026
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan โ Calling for renewed energy and a stronger sense of shared responsibility, the Schools Division Office of Cagayan brought together private school administrators and education officials during the 2026 Division Management Committee Meeting (ManCom) with Private School Administrators on August 14, 2026, at the SDO Cagayan Function Hall.
The gathering provided a common table for SDO Cagayan and its private education partners to confront emerging challenges in basic education, clarify policies, examine learner and school data, and agree on concrete actions toward improving educational access, quality, governance, and learner outcomes.
Welcoming the participants, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Romel L. Libang introduced the idea of โSiglayaโ as a call for renewed vigor in fulfilling the education sector's shared mission.
More than a catchphrase, Libang used Siglaya to challenge both public and private education institutions to examine their โfitness for purposeโโwhether their systems remain responsive and effective in teaching learners, leading institutions, managing resources, and ultimately elevating learning outcomes. He called for greater systemic interdependence, cooperation, and resource-sharing between SDO Cagayan and private schools.
Schools Division Superintendent Reynante Z. Caliguiran reinforced this call through the principle of complementarity, emphasizing that public and private schools are not competitors but partners entrusted with the same learners and the same future.
Describing their relationship as a โsacred partnershipโ and a โshared covenant,โ Caliguiran likened public and private education to dual pillars supporting the roof of Cagayan's education system. He underscored that this partnership must go beyond words and translate into closer supervision, resource-sharing, responsive policies, and interventions that reach learners regardless of the type of school they attend.
๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ: ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ, ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐๐ก๐๐๐
The meeting took a data-driven turn as Planning Officer III Engelbert B. Lucas reported that SDO Cagayan has 108 registered private schools, with another branch in Santa Ana pending approval. Private schools were commended for achieving a 100% BEIS submission rate.
At the same time, the data revealed concerns requiring collective action. Private school enrollment declined by approximately 8,000 learners compared with the previous year, while 480 LIS data corrections remained pending. Schools were also reminded to immediately finalize outstanding End-of-School-Year 2025โ2026 classes to prevent delays in the enrollment of transitioning learners.
The Division reiterated procedures for learners transferring with unsettled financial obligations, including the appropriate use of Affidavits of Undertaking, so that financial concerns do not unnecessarily interrupt a learner's continued education.
Enrollment decline likewise became part of a larger conversation on the sustainability of private education. Caliguiran encouraged school administrators to strengthen partnerships with LGUs, alumni, and communities while maintaining political neutrality. One model shared during the discussion showed how an administrator's partnership with a local mayor and alumni support helped increase enrollment from approximately 150 to 800 learners.
Private schools were likewise encouraged to explore available support from the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC), particularly in developing structured interventions to address dropout and learner retention.
๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ โ๐๐ข๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐โ
Curriculum Implementation Division Chief Rogelio H. Pasinos discussed the continuing transition to the MATATAG Curriculum, emphasizing the need for private schools to align their curriculum maps, lesson plans, learning resources, assessment practices, and grading systems with current DepEd standards.
Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy, protecting instructional time under the three-term calendar, and ensuring that learning resources marketed as โMATATAG compliantโ are actually aligned with prescribed standards.
SDO Cagayan also opened opportunities for private school teachers to benefit from Division training resources and, with appropriate coordination, participate in public school Learning Action Cell and learning and development activities.
For Senior High School, EPS Gerry C. Goze discussed the strengthened curriculum under DepEd Order No. 17, s. 2026, which streamlines SHS into the Academic and Technical Professional (TechPro) tracks and reduces the core curriculum to five subjects.
Private SHS providers operating under provisional permits were also reminded to prepare for the transition toward Government Recognition, while ensuring that electives, institutional subjects, work immersion arrangements, and grading systems comply with prescribed requirements.
๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ
Learning outcomes were placed squarely at the center of the discussion as EPS Jecelyn M. De Leon presented the Computer-Based National Achievement Test Grade 12 results of five participating private schools.
The results generally placed learners within the Nearly Proficient level. St. Francis Academy recorded the highest overall MPS at 65.17%, while Science posted the strongest subject performance among the reported assessment areas.
The results prompted a call for schools to move beyond aggregate scores and conduct item- and competency-level analyses to determine specific learning gaps requiring intervention.
As part of preparations for international assessments, schools were encouraged to gradually expose learners to computer-aided assessments. SDO Cagayan committed to sharing localized PISA test banks and digital reading resources, including the myON platform, while both public and private schools were called upon to implement ARAL interventions in reading, mathematics, and science.
From supervision to teacher support: one education system
The discussions also translated the principle of complementarity into concrete commitments.
Caliguiran emphasized that Public Schools District Supervisors have supervisory responsibilities covering both public and private basic education institutions within their respective areas. PSDSs were consequently directed to strengthen regular visits to private schools for instructional supervision, curriculum mapping reviews, technical assistance, and learning-resource alignment.
Private school teachers will likewise be assisted in accessing compliant learning materials through SDO Cagayan's learning resource systems.
Responding to concerns over private school teachers leaving in the middle of the school year for public school appointments, the meeting also explored mechanisms for strengthening contractual protection while respecting the rights of qualified applicants.
At the same time, SDO Cagayan offered a practical response to teacher recruitment concerns: private schools may tap qualified but unplaced applicants from the Division's Registry of Qualified Applicants, creating another bridge between the public and private education sectors.
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ, ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐
Attorney III Redentor M. Agustin reinforced schools' responsibilities under learner protection policies, particularly the distinction between legitimate institutional discipline and acts that may constitute abuse.
Private schools were reminded that school rules and student manuals must operate within DepEd's learner protection standards and that discipline must never compromise the dignity, safety, and rights of children.
Libang likewise raised concerns on data privacy, reminding school administrators of the risks involved in publicly posting learner photographs, grades, classroom activities, and personally identifiable information without appropriate consent.
The discussions further supported strengthening CABPSAT as a unified Division-wide organization for private basic education institutions, providing private schools a stronger collective voice and formal channel of representation.
๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
The MANCOM also expanded the conversation beyond academics through updates from the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of the Philippines.
Through Project TANIKALA โ Training, Integrity, Knowledge, and Leadership Advancement, SDO Cagayan seeks to strengthen Scout advancement, mentorship, leadership development, and registration.
The Cagayan NorthโTuguegarao City Council was recognized as Best Local Council in terms of membership, while participants were informed of the Provincial Government's ongoing initiative toward establishing a permanent 30- to 50-hectare scouting training center in Solana.
Patrol Leaders Training Courses were also scheduled for August 21โ23 and August 29โ31, utilizing official holidays to avoid disrupting classes. With only 12 private schools registered with the BSP in 2025, private institutions were encouraged to strengthen participation, while St. Joseph College and Lyceum of Alcala were commended for leading current recruitment.
For Girl Scouting, data showed that 977 of 2,169 potential members, or 45.4%, were registered, prompting a call for increased participation and awareness of the protection and assistance afforded to registered members.
๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐๐, ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฐ๐๐
The day also celebrated private schools whose work has contributed to the Division's educational goals.
Shining Light Academy received recognition for emerging as national champion in Online PublishingโSecondary Filipino during the National Schools Press Conference in Ormoc City, while more than 80 private schools were recognized for their contributions to quality basic education and partnership with SDO Cagayan.
Private schools were likewise encouraged to nominate deserving educators, school heads, and institutions for the 2026 Saludo Educators of Cagayan Awards, which provides six categories specifically for the private education sector. Caliguiran directed that reasonable flexibility be extended to private school nominations to ensure that deserving nominees are given the opportunity to participate.
By the end of the meeting, the discussions had returned to Libang's opening challenge: Are schools still fit for the purpose they are called to serve?
For SDO Cagayan and its private school partners, Siglaya captured a responseโnot as the title of an activity, but as a renewed disposition toward the work ahead: renewed energy to teach better, lead better, manage better, collaborate better, and deliver better learning outcomes.
Because whether a child studies in a public or private school, the responsibility remains shared.
One education system. Different institutions. One Cagayano learner at the center.
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