History of the School

Little did everyone know that what used to be an extension school would soon grow bigger than the mother high school and would have a population thrice as many. But such is what exactly happened to Daraga National High School

Humble Beginning

         The growing population of the Anislag National High School (ANHS) prompted the officers of the General Parent-Teachers Association (GPTA) of  ANHS Annex, then housed at the site of Anislag Elementary School, to do something that would help the students not only those from the Annex School but also those in the neighboring barangays of the Daraga Town proper.

         Meanwhile, 5 pioneer teachers were assigned to start handling 3 classes of 151 students at the temporary school buildings borrowed from the Bicol University College of Education Laboratory School (BUCELS). The teachers had to contend with dilapidated classrooms and many other problems regarding the sudden separation from the mother high school many kilometers away. Still, they braved the storms that came along with the coming birth of a new school.

         In one of the regular sessions of the Sangguniang Bayan of Daraga, the council decided to pass Resolution No. 21-90 dated March 26, 1990, requesting the president of the Bicol University to formally consider the request of the GPTA of ANHS Annex.

         On July 23, 1990, four months after the resolution was signed, Rep. Carlos P. Imperial authored Republic Act 7059, which was the creation of a High School in the Municipality of Daraga to be known as Daraga National High School. President Corazon C. Aquino approved it on June 21, 1991, after being passed from the House of Representatives and the Senate. It was then finally made official for implementation by the DECS on June 7, 1993. Appointed as Officer-In-Charge of the school was Mrs. Richa G. Vibar who was already acting in the capacity as teacher-in-charge of the ANHS Annex.

         With R.A. 7059 to back up the resolution of the Municipal Council of Daraga, a Memorandum of Agreement between the Bicol University and the Municipality of Daraga was signed on July 16, 1993, by Hon. Cicero C. Triunfante, the Mayor of Daraga, Pres. Lylia Corporal-Sena of the Bicol University and Dir. Dominador Cabasal of DECS Region V.

         It was stipulated in the agreement that the Bicol University will allocate 12,710 sq. m. of its lot in the BUCELS Site Ii. Along with it were 20 classrooms, 1 laboratory building and, 1 Administration building. The said lot will be used as the permanent school site of Daraga National High School.

         Since then, the growth of Daraga High School has been unstoppable. It has proven its strength as it slowly climbed the ladder towards independence and earned recognition for its achievements both for the students and the teachers.

Bañadero Extension

         On 1997, DNHS has provided for an extension school at Bañadero, Daraga, Albay for those who could not be accommodated in the campus and for those who are living in the said area.

         Just like the humble beginning of Daraga National High School, the Bañadero extension also has its share of difficulties. DNHS, however, gave it the support it needed to establish its roots for independence. In truth, some of the teachers were borrowed from DNHS and its initial finances were augmented by the DNHS from time to time. Little by little, however, this extension school has made progress as it realized the need of the community for free secondary education. The school was separated and become an independent school last 2005.

Night High at DNHS

         Recognizing the necessity of the students who find it hard to attend day classes for economic reasons, the school has brought this matter to the attention of the local government who has shown its support ever since. The municipal Council passed a resolution requesting DNHS to hold evening classes. The document made was needed so that the Department of Education would be able to finance the said evening class.

         On its initial operation, the local government provided for the honorarium of the teachers handling the pioneer class of 64 freshmen enrollees. Six teachers were requested to handle the subjects as early as 4:30 PM and ended at 9:10 PM. This is truly a significant contribution of DNHS to the education department and to the community as well.

Daraga Community College

         DNHS houses the Daraga Community College, which is in its fifth year of operation offers in Bachelor of Elementary Education and Secondary Education.

         Its presence at DNHS, help greatly in the improvement of facilities like the library and the laboratory. The honorarium the teachers from the high school, who were given load in College, receive aside from their regular salary is also a considerable help financially.

2007 Onwards

         Since 2001, a great number of improvements can be seen at the Daraga National high School. Classrooms have been added from the Department of Education, the GPTA, Citizen’s Battle with Corruption through the efforts of Cong. Emmanuel Villanueva and Hon. Gerry R. Jaucian, Mayor of Daraga, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Chinese Chamber of Commerce through Sen. Franklin Drilon and Sen. Jamby Madrigal. UNICEF sponsored the Rehabilitation and repair of the Marcos Type building and some other classrooms that was destroyed by the typhoon Reming and another improvement of the PTA classroom was also done by DPWH.

         In addition to faucets, three(3) deep well  were constructed from the PTA fund.

Teachers from every subject area now have their own office so that they can improve their craft as they share expertise and materials with their peers. Those who showed excellence were rewarded with promotion.

         The once swampy are now buzzes alive as it has become the center of students activities were demonstrations and rehearsals are held for major performances, tents are pitched for school camp-o-rals, Holy Masses are said for spiritual growth.

         In summer of 2004, 10 additional computers were given by the Department of Trade and Industry through the then Sec. Mar Roxas. The school provided an internet service connection so that the students can surf  the net for their researches.

         Nothing could be more with mentioning than that of the award received by the students for their achievements in the different competitions from the cluster to the national level.

         With the current population of more than 4000 and close to a hundred teachers, there are still problems to battle with. But with the spirit for which it stands, DNHS will not easily give up.

         Clearly, the growth and improvement of the school is far from over. It tenaciously clings to its past as it moves to greater heights of success not for its alumni alone but for the coming generations.