Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 744
Introduced by Representative SOLOMON R. CHUNGALAO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill was originally filed as House Bill No. 2396 in the sixteenth 16th 
Congress and re-filed as House Bill No. 1111 in the seventeenth 17th Congress. In 
the 18th Congress, it was filed as House Bill No. 5858 on December 18, 2019. In 
the 19th Congress, it was filed as House Bill No. 2146 on July 19, 2022. This 
legislative measure seeks to separate the Sta. Maria National High School 
Extension in barangay Potia, from the Sta. Maria National High School in 
barangay Sta. Maria, both in the municipality of Alfonso Lista, province of Ifugao, 
into an independent national high school to be known as the Potia National High 
School.  
Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to protect and 
promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and to take 
appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. It clearly provides that 
the State shall establish and maintain a system of free public education in the 
elementary and high school levels.  
Despite having two (2) district engineering offices, the geographic terrain 
still poses challenges to travel from one place to another within the province of 
Ifugao. Some areas can hardly be reached due to road conditions frequently 
July 1, 2025
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affected by landslides and soil erosions. Travelers would take minutes and even 
hours to reach a destination such as schools. Teachers and staff are hindered by 
these geographic constraints to travel from their mother school to its satellite 
extension or annex school. This proposed bill aims to do justice not just to these 
personnel but also to the residents by establishing an independent National High 
School. This measure is crucial to promote quality education in the municipality 
of Alfonso Lista which is essential for its socio-economic development and to 
encourage the youth to pursue education and prevent them from going to the 
wrong path.  
In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.  
ATTY. SOLOMON R. CHUNGALAO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 744
Introduced by Representative SOLOMON R. CHUNGALAO 
AN ACT 
SEPARATING THE STA.MARIA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL EXTENSION IN 
BARANGAY POTIA, MUNICIPALITY OF ALFONSO LISTA, PROVINCE OF 
IFUGAO FROM STA. MARIA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT 
INTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS 
POTIA 
NATIONAL 
HIGH 
SCHOOL 
AND 
APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Separation and Conversion into a National High School – The 
Sta. Maria National High School Extension in Barangay Potia, Municipality of 
Alfonso Lista, Province of Ifugao is hereby separated from the Sta. Maria National 
High School and converted into an independent national high school to be known 
as Potia National High School. 
SECTION 2. Transfer of Assets and Liabilities – All personnel, assets, 
liabilities and records of the Sta. Maria National High School Extension are hereby 
transferred to and absorbed by the Potia National High School. 
SECTION 3. Appropriations – The Secretary of Education shall 
immediately include in the Department’s program the operationalization of the 
Potia National High School, the initial funding of which shall be charged against 
the current year’s appropriations of the Sta. Maria National High School 
Extension and thereafter it shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 


SECTION 4. Implementation – The Secretary of the Department of 
Education shall issue rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectively 
carry out the purpose of this Act. 
 
SECTION 5. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette, 
 
 
Approved,