Bayambang: The Bayambang Central School (BCS) now has its long-term site following the signing of a usufruct agreement between the municipal government of Bayambang and the Department of Education (DepEd).
According to Philippines News Agency, special assistant to the Mayor Dr. Cezar Quiambao, in an interview on Wednesday, said under the agreement signed on June 15, the school would have usufruct rights for 25 years to the more than two hectares of land in Barangay Bical Norte, owned by the local government of Bayambang. The agreement can be renewed.
The school was transferred to Barangay Bical Norte in October 2014 from its old site in Barangay Poblacion following a controversial land swap. "When I assumed office in 2016, it was swapped, so we need to go after it in court. We won in 2024 but it would take a long process," he said in Filipino, referring to the return of the school to the old site.
Instead, the municipal government purchased the 20,581 square meters of land in Barangay Bical Norte for PHP129 million through a loan, Quiambao said. He said the LGU has two additional properties, including the old site of BCS, which is now offered for long term lease since it is located at the town's central business district.
'Our teachers and learners are now at peace because of this historic moment of finally providing a permanent area for BCS,' said DepEd Ilocos Regional Director Estela Leon-Cari±o in a statement. The BCS has 1,761 enrolled learners from Kindergarten to Grade 6 for School Year 2026-2027, according to DepEd.
