Puerto Princesa, a first-class highly urbanized city, is famous for its natural attractions where a wide array of flora and fauna abound. It is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Puerto Princesa Underground River. Having been recognized several times as the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines, this beautiful place is a top tourist and holiday destination not only in the country, but in the world.

At the heart of the City in the Forest lies the Schools Division Office of Puerto Princesa headed by the strong and vibrant leadership of OIC, Schools Division Superintendent Laida M. Lagar- Mascareñas, CESE together with her co-educational leader OIC, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Marites P. Perez, CESE.

PPC DepEd is one of the seven Division Offices of DepEd-MIMAROPA along with Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, and Calapan City.

The geographical location and other complexities in providing the educational needs to the constituents in the province of Palawan and the City of Puerto Princesa paved the creation of the City Division of Puerto Princesa through a resolution spearheaded by Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn and the Sangguniang Panlungsod in 1994. This resolution served as the basis for R.A. 8204, “An Act Creating the City Schools Division of Puerto Princesa”, authored by Cong. Alfredo Amor Abueg, Jr. on November 28, 1995. Finally, it was made into law on September 5, 1996.

On October 15, 1997, the most significant event in the history of education in Puerto Princesa was held at the Provincial Capitol of Palawan where the official turn-over of schools within the City Schools Division of Puerto Princesa was witnessed by Dr. Esperanza, DECS Region IV Director. Since the creation of the youngest division in the Southern Tagalog Region, there were nine Schools Division Superintendents/Officers-in-Charge who assumed responsibility in forming it to what it is today, namely Dr. Emma A. Bautista (Oct. 1996-Nov. 24, 1998), Dr. Portia P. Gesilva (Nov. 25, 1998-Dec.21, 2000), Dr. Yolita S. Amiscosa (Dec. 22, 2000-June 23, 2002), Dr. Eduardo V. Lopez (June 27, 2002-April 11, 2004), Dr. Norma B. Brillantes (April 12, 2004-May 8, 2006), Servillano A. Arzaga, CESO V (May 08, 2006-Dec. 25, 2012), Dr. Domingo V. Padul (Dec. 27, 2012-Sept. 18, 2013), Dr. Elsie T. Barrios (Sept. 19, 2013-Jan. 11, 2019), Susana M. Bautista (Jan. 12, 2019-Oct. 14, 2019), Servillano A. Arzaga, CESO V (Oct. 15, 2019 to Oct. 2021), Dr. Loida P. Adornado, CESO VI (Oct. 2021 to April 02, 2023) and Laida M. Lagar- Mascareñas, CESE.

Their effective leadership and collaboration with the City Government, non-government organizations, and community partners are the pillars in the delivery of educational services and achievement of quality education in the City.

Hand-in-hand in fulfilling the goals and objectives of SDO-Puerto Princesa are its two functional divisions, the Curriculum Implementation Division, headed by Dr. Cyril C. Serador, and the School Governance and Operations Division, headed by Dr. Eleazar B. Arellano.

The CID ensures the full implementation of the articulated Basic Education Curriculum through localization and innovations in teaching the various subject-areas towards improvement in the quality of learning outcomes.

The SGOD, on the other hand, ensures the effective and efficient delivery of education services in the schools and learning centers, as it also gives support and capacitates them in ensuring a conducive learning environment in compliance to quality standards of Governance and Operations.

At present, there are already 75 elementary schools and 26 secondary schools with a total of 101 public elementary and secondary schools in the Division of Puerto Princesa with an enrollment of 73,750 learners. Furthermore, 41 private schools are also enlisted under the division which offer elementary or secondary education, or both and 1 SUC (State University and Colleges). as of October 21, 2022, there are 2,804 regular personnel of the division, and 2,481 of them are teachers.

With DepEd’s mandate to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a complete, adequate, and integrated system of basic education relevant to the aspirations of national development, the City Schools Division of Puerto Princesa will continue making history.