HISTORY OF THE DIVISION OF SAGAY CITY
The Division of Sagay City was once a part of the Division of Negros Occidental. The conversion of the Municipality of Sagay into a component city known as the City of Sagay pursuant to RA 8192 in 1997 paved the way for its establishment and separation from the mother division. Through the efforts of Mrs. Mildred L. Garay, then Assistant Schools Division Superintendent through the recommendation of Mrs. Teresita G. Dayot, then Schools Division Superintendent of the Division of Negros Occidental, the creation of twelve (12) positions for the new division was approved and signed in October 1997 by Assistant Secretary and Officer-in-Charge Josefina B. Nisperos of the Department of Budget and Management. The initial funding requirement was sourced out of the salaries and other compensation of nine (9) vacant Education Supervisor items of the city divisions of Bago, Cadiz, La Carlota and San Carlos. A total of 646 positions were transferred to the Division of Sagay City, one from the Division of Silay City and 645 from the Division of Negros Occidental. It officially started its operation as a separate division in November, 1997 where Mrs. Mildred L. Garay, one of the ASDS of the Division of Negros Occidental and in-charge of North Negros Area was officially installed as Officer-in-Charge by then Sagay City Mayor Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. The new division staff was originally housed at the offices located at the left side of the Sagay City Gym presently utilized by the Sagay City Youth Training Center and DECS Sagay Multi-purpose Cooperative. Her leadership was complemented by Mr. Virgilio A. Geroso, the first Assistant Schools Division Superintendent. During the nine-year term of Mrs. Garay, she introduced and implemented the Project READ Sagay and the establishment of the School of the Future in Alfredo G. Marañon, Sr. Elementary School. Mrs. Garay was instrumental in the construction and completion of the present division office with financial assistance from the City Government of Sagay and the Province of Negros Occidental. It was also during her term that the division was granted Level I Accreditation Status of the Civil Service Commission with the authority to approve appointments without the need of the attestation of the Commission.
Ms. Elnora A. Pahunao from the Division of Iloilo replaced Mrs. Mildred L. Garay as Schools Division Superintendent in 2006. Her most significant innovation is the School of Tomorrow which was implemented by ten selected schools. Mr. John Arnold Siena from the Philippine Science High School, Iloilo City was designated as Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent in July, 2007 vice Mr. Virgilio A. Geroso who retired from the service.
Ms. Lorlinie M. Ortillo from the Division of Negros Occidental took over the place of Mr. John Arnold S. Siena in December, 2008 when the latter transferred to the Division of Bacolod City. She introduced the Enter the Nets Dropout Reduction Program in the division. Ms. Ortillo was replaced by Mrs. Elena D. Olvido, from the Division of Kabankalan City in September, 2011 where the former took over as full-fledged Assistant Schools Division Superintendent.
Dr. XZ B. Dignadice, Schools Division Superintendent of Cadiz City Division was temporarily designated as Officer-in-Charge of the Division after the compulsory retirement of Ms. Elnora A. Pahunao in March, 2010 until September, 2010 when Mr. John Arnold S. Siena from the Division of Bacolod City was reassigned back to the division as OIC-SDS. He was reassigned to the Division of Antique in May, 2012 and Ms. Lorlinie M. Ortillo took over as OIC-SDS until September 9, 2012.
Dr. Evelyn A. de Juan, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent of the Division of Iloilo became the OIC-SDS of the division effective September 17, 2012 vice Mrs. Elena D. Olvido who transferred to the Division of Cadiz City. It was on the same day that Dr. Azucena T. Falales from the Division of Iloilo City assumed office as OIC – ASDS.
The division was classified as a medium size division upon the approval of the Rationalization Program of the department in 2015. The implementation of the Senior High School Program in 2016 brought the total personnel complement to 1,527 from the initial staffing of 658 in 1997. Mrs. Marsette D. Sabbaluca, ASDS of the Division of Silay City is the new OIC- SDS of the division replacing Dr. Evelyn A. de Juan who retired from the service last May, 2015.