Transfer of Real Property from the PNR to the Hondagua National High School

July 6, 2004

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 324

DIRECTING THE TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY FROM THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RAILWAYS TO THE HONDAGUA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND DIRECTING THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION TO EXERCISE PRIMARY OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS OVER THE SAID TRANSFER

WHEREAS, Section 1, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all;

WHEREAS, it is a declared policy of the State to promote education as a means to achieve and maintain an accelerating rate of economic development and social progress;

WHEREAS, the Hondagua National High School [HNHS] is a National High School under the supervision of the Department of Education [DepEd] which is currently situated in a real property leased from and owned by the Philippine National Railways [PNR] (hereinafter, the "Hondagua Property");

WHEREAS, in order for the DepEd to appropriate a budget and allocate funds for the development of the HNHS as a complete and adequate educational institution, particularly for the construction of school buildings, acquisition of equipment and other facilities, there is a need to transfer ownership over the Hondagua Property from the PNR to the HNHS; AECacS

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Transfer of Property. — Subject to existing laws, rules and regulations, the real property covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 5423, issued by the Registry of Deeds for the Province of Tayabas, currently issued in the name of the PNR, with an area of approximately ten thousand square meters (10,000 sq. m.), more or less, over which the HNHS is currently situated, shall be transferred from the PNR to the HNHS. TBCScdtai

For this purpose, the Department of Education [DepEd], in coordination with PNR and other appropriate government agencies, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR], is hereby directed to determine the metes and bounds of the real property subject of the transfer herein.

SECTION 2. Oversight Functions. — The Secretary of Education is hereby directed to exercise primary oversight functions over the transfer of the Hondagua Property as provided in Section 1 hereof and shall, within sixty (60) days from the date of issuance of this Order, submit a written report to the President, through the Executive Secretary, on the transfer of the Hondagua Property as directed in Section 1 hereof.

SECTION 3. Assistance. — The Secretary of Education may call upon the Department of Finance, the Department of Budget and Management [DBM], and any other agency of the Government for such assistance as may be necessary or appropriate in the performance of his functions.

All heads of departments, agencies, bureaus, offices, including government-owned or controlled corporations, are hereby enjoined to render full assistance and cooperation to the Secretary of Education and to provide such information and data as may be required to carry out his functions pursuant to this Order.

SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. — All executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

City of Manila, July 6, 2004