CATBALOGAN, Samar – Two more bills seeking the establishment of national high schools in Samar had passed deliberations at the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations,according to a report from the congressional office of Rep. Catalino Figueroa.

House Bill 3450 (Establishment of San Fernando High School in Basey town) and House Bill 4003 (Establishment of Plaridel national High School in Villareal town) were approved during the first reading last December 2005, and the committee reports are now being readied for the second and third reading in the plenary, it was learned.

Earlier, rep. Figueroa had submitted six education-related bills that were also passed in the Congress’s Committee on Appropriations.

These bills were HB 2503 (Conversion of the Osmeña National High School into Osmeña Agro-Industrial High School in Marabut), HB 2506 (Conversion of the Calapi National High School into Calapi National Agricultural High School in Motiong, HB 3151 (Establishment of the Catbalogan National Comprehensive High School), HB 3153 (Conversion of the Magdawat Primary School into Magdawat Elementary School in Pinabacdao), HB 3211 (Establishment of the Silanga National High School in Catbalogan and HB 3406 otherwise known as the Establishment of Zumarraga national High School in Zumarraga, Samar.

In an interview, Figueroa said these bills will benefit his constituents in the second district, most especially if funding for these schools would be approved and released to the Department of Education’s schools division in Samar.

“Being vice-chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, I will do my very best to get the approval of the funding of these bills, which I authored, because I know these will benefit my poor constituents, especially those who cannot afford the cost of education, “ Figueroa said.