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 Mabalacat was derived from the Balacat tree (Zyzyphus Zonulata Balaco), a fourth-class timber. Mabalacat in the native Kapampangan dialect means “full of balacats”.

There is no official record on the foundation of the municipality but according to folk tales that were passed through generations, the first settlers were purely Negritos known as balugas or Aetas. A Negrito chieftain named Caragan led his tribe to the virtual forest of balacat trees and settled themselves within its plentiful resources. Caragan was later married to Laureana Tolentino from whom he adopted his family name. Laureana became the first Cabeza De Barangay of Mabalacat, a title now equivalent to Barangay Chairman.

Mabalacat’s soil is charcoal black and shiny, a sign of fertility, and is suitable for growing rice, sugar cane and other root crops. Later, because of the fertile soil and the abundance of wild animals and fowl, lowlanders arrived and drove the Negritos back to the nearby mountains and hills and claimed the land for themselves. Vast agricultural lands were owned by a few families such as the Dizons, Tiglaos, Guecos, Ramoses, Dominguezes and the Castros.

Mabalacat became a town in the year 1712. Before 1712, Mabalacat was a barrio (barangay) of Bambang, Bamban, Tarlac.  Like Porac, Santa Rita, Magalang,and Angeles City, this town never gets inundated by floods from heavy rains because it is situated on an elevated plain known as “upper Pampanga”.

On May 15, 2012, His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III signed RA 10064 entitled “An Act converting the Municipality of Mabalacat, Pampanga into a component city known as Mabalacat City”. It was on July 21, 2012 when Mabalacat was proclaimed City as a result of a plebiscite where majority of the people of Mabalacat voted ’YES’. At present, the incumbent mayor is Hon. Crisostomo C. Garbo. 


 

  1. By virtue of Section 48 of Republic Act. No. 10164, otherwise known as “An Act Converting the Municipality of Mabalacat in the Province of Pampanga into a Component City to be known as Mabalacat City”, a City Schools Division of Mabalacat was established  which jurisdiction will cover all the schools within the city.
  2. DepEd Region III Director, Dr. Isabelita M. Borres and Mabalacat City Mayor Marino P. Morales signed a Memorandum of Agreement at Mabalacat, Pampanga on July 25,2012, to establish the City Schools Division of Mabalacat.
  3. The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Mabalacat City approved Resolution No. 158, s 2012 on July 26, 2012 which favorably endorsed to the Department of Education the establishment of the City Schools Division of Mabalacat.
  4. On August 1, 2012, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Mabalacat City approved Resolution No. 160 series 2012 , authorizing the City Mayor to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Education Region III for the establishment of City Schools Division of Mabalacat .
  5. The launching of the establishment of City Schools Division of Mabalacat was on November 15, 2012 at Mabalacat Elementary School, Mabalacat North District.
  6. Department Memorandum dated October 10, 2012, authorized the City Schools Division of Mabalacat to separate from its mother schools division, the Division of Pampanga and Dr. Estrelita Cunanan was designated as the Officer In Charge, Schools Division Superintendent of Division of Mabalacat City.
  7. Regional Advisory dated November 20, 2012, provided the installation of Dr. Estrelita Cunanan as the Officer In Charge, Schools Division Superintendent of Division of Mabalacat City on November 21, 2012.
  8. DepEd Memorandum dated December 6, 2012 authorized the reassignment Order of Dr. Nicolas T. Capulong as the Officer In Charge, Schools Division Superintendent of Division of Mabalacat City.
  9. DepEd Memorandum dated January 10, 2013 authorized the designation of Dr. Leonardo C. Canlas as the Officer In Charge of the Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent of Division of Mabalacat City.
  10. DepEd Memorandum dated February 20, 2014 authorized the designation of Dr. Ma. Irelyn P. Tamayo as the Officer In Charge of the Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent of Division of Mabalacat City.
  11. DepEd Memorandum dated January 5, 2015 authorized the assignment Order of Estelita G. Pineda as the Schools Division Superintendent of Division of Mabalacat City.
  12. DepEd Memorandum dated February 22, 2016 authorized the designation of Dr. Ma. Irelyn P. Tamayo as the Officer In Charge of the Office of the Schools Division Superintendent of Division of Mabalacat City.
  13. On October 2, 2018 Dr. Estrelita S. Cunanan rendered her first day of service as the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent of Division of Mabalacat City.
  14. On October 18, 2019, Engr. Edgard C. Domingo, PhD, CESO V was appointed Schools Division Superintendent of the Division of Mabalacat City.  It was October 21, 2019 that marked his first day of service.
  15. On July 20, 2020, Leandro C. Canlas, PhD, CESE joined the Division of Mabalacat City family.
  16. On January 04, 2021 Ericson S. Sabacan, EdD, CESO VI rendered his first day of service as the Officer-In-Charge of the Office of the Schools Division Superintendent of Division of Mabalacat
  17. On January 04, 2022 Leonardo D. Zapanta, EdD, CESO V rendered his first day of service as Schools Division Superintendent of Division of Mabalacat City.
  18. On April 03, 2023, Maria Carmen P. Cuenco, EdD, CESO V rendered her first day of service as Schools Division Superintendent of Division of Mabalacat City


 

SDO Mabalacat City, as a DepEd Field Office, is organized to provide quality basic education services.  It is responsible for the local coordination and administration of the Department’s mandate.

DepEd Order No. 52, s.2015 or the New Organizational Structures of the Central, Regional, Schools Division Offices of the Department expounded the Rationalization Structure brought about the restructuring of its office functions and staffing.

At present, the Division of Mabalacat operates under the leadership of the Schools Division Superintendent and the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent with the following functional divisions:

  • Office of the Schools Division Superintendent

Administrative Unit

Human Resource Unit

Records Unit

Supply Unit

Cashiers Unit

Accounting Unit

Budget Unit

Information Communications Technology Unit

General Services

  •  Curriculum Implementation Division

Learning Areas

Kindergarten

Inclusive Education (IPEd, SPEd, MG, ALS)

Learning Resources Management and Development Section

  •  School Governance and Operations Division

Planning and Research Unit

Human Resource Development Unit

School Management Monitoring and Evaluation Unit

Social Mobilization and Networking Unit

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Health and Nutrition Services Unit

Youth Formation Unit

 SDO Mabalacat City has 92 schools, broken down as follows:

  • 36 Public Elementary schools (K-G6)
  • 8 Public Junior high schools (G7-G10)
  • 5 Public Junior high school with senior high school (G7-G12)
  • 4 Public Integrated Schools (K-G10)
  • 1 Stand-Alone Public Senior high school (G11-G12)
  • 1 Philippine Science School
  • 38 Private Schools

 


 

Republic Act 9155, also known as the Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001, established the current mandate of the Department of Education (DepEd).  It further provides that the DepEd formulates, implements, and coordinates policies, plans, programs, and projects in the areas of formal and non-formal basic education. It supervises all elementary and secondary education institutions, including alternative learning systems, both public and private; and provides for the establishment and maintenance of a complete, adequate, and integrated system of basic education relevant to the goals of national development.

The Division of Mabalacat City, as one of the DepEd Field Offices, shares and carries out the mandates through the efficient implementation of policies, programs, projects, and activities of the Department at the local level.  Thus, ensuring the provision and delivery of quality basic education services in the City.