Its birth brought about by carving-out the high school department of the Southern Isabela College of Arts and Trades (SICAT) and the approval of City Ordinance No. 4THCC-24, SCNHS is here to stay. The Educational Commission tasked by both Chamber of Congress to study the plight of Philippine Education recommended the decentralization of the different ladders of education. This move gave birth to t
he Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in charge of post-secondary technical-vocational courses and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to oversee the degree courses in college with the Department of Education (DepEd) retaining only the elementary secondary otherwise known as basic education. SICAT being TESDA, but with high school and post-secondary enrolment has to turn the secondary over to the DepEd. On November 27, 2001 a turn-over ceremony as well as Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing took place. Thirty six (36) teachers and employees were transferred; 1.4 hectares at the southern portion with five (5) buildings was carved-out of SICAT; secondary books, chairs, equipments and other facilities were also turned-over. On March 15, 2001, Resolution No. 4THCC-82 naming the carved-out high school to Santiago City National High School was approved through the recommendation of the Local School Board (LSB). Its first alumni graduated on March 6, 2002. Taguinod of the Department of Budget and Management wrote the Officer-in-Charge informing him that the resolution should have been an ordinance, instead. The City Council of Santiago finally approved the Ordinance under suspended rules on May 15, 2002. Today, SCNHS marches forward, leaves an indelible mark on its way so that in Santiago City, in the whole of Isabela and of Region 02, it will always remembered.
