KALINGA Lone District Rep. Allen Jesse Mangaoang has filed a measure seeking to convert a national high school in Tabuk City into an agro-industrial school.

In pushing for House Bill 7468, Mangaoang wants to convert the Balawag National High School into Balawag Agro-Industrial National High School.

In his explanatory note, the lawmaker said the bill aims to align the school with the courses it offers to the students.

“Since Balawag is an agricultural community and most of the students come from farming families or with agricultural backgrounds, the school in the implementation of the Senior High School program focuses more on agriculture and crop production,” the lawmaker said.

The school started operating as an independent national high school in 2000.

It co-owns a lot containing an area of 54.4 hectares with Balawag Elementary School.

“Taking advantage of the vast area it owns, it also plans to offer and prepare a complete menu of an agri-fishery arts school, as well as related courses on animal production, food processing and lanscape installation,” Mangaoang said.

The lawmaker believes that with its conversion to an agri-industrial school, the school will expand the courses it offers in fisheries, animal production and other areas of agricultural industry and will be better equipped in teaching and preparing the learners in their chosen fields.