IBA, Zambales — Two public schools in Zambales recently received special patents from the government, finally earning a legal stamp of ownership for the parcels of land they occupy here since their founding more than 100 years ago.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. handed over to Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. special patents for Iba Elementary School and Zambales National High School during a mass distribution of land titles on Sept. 19 in San Fernando, Pampanga.

The land patents for Zambales schools were among the 11 special patents awarded by the President that day. He also led the distribution of 520 free land patents to residential and agricultural beneficiaries coming from provinces in Northern and Central Luzon.

Gov. Ebdane described the occasion as a “momentous day” for the Zambales schools, noting that they finally sit on their own piece of land after more than a century.

Iba Central School was established by American teachers who arrived in September 1902, first teaching in the Catholic church before the first schoolhouse for a complete elementary school was built in 1906 at its current location. 

On the other hand, the Zambales National High School (ZNHS) was established in 1913 as a vocational school through the initiative of then Congressman Alejo Labrador.

The provincial government donated an 11-hectare farm to house the school, which was also administered by Americans. The school was originally called Iba Farm School, before its conversion into a provincial trade school in 1919.

Since then, it took on several names: Zambales Trade School in 1933; Western Luzon School of Arts and Trades in 1953; Zambales School of Arts and Trades in 1957; and Ramon Magsaysay Memorial School of Arts and Trades in 1961 in honor of the province’s greatest son and former Philippine president.

Through the years, however, the location of the schools had remained the property of the local government until the recent awarding of the special patents. – Taktikom News & Features