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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 917

Introduced by Rep. AURELIO "DONG" D. GONZALES, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Many believe that education is the greatest social equalizer. For so many years, a
person can only be categorized as “educated” when he had undergone a formal education and
has finished a certain chosen field of study.

However, not all can afford to go to a school and attend daily class sessions without
sacrificing other basic necessities in life. There are those, or say many Filipino children, has
to find food first above anything else, including education.

Nonetheless, with the initial implementation of the Altemative Leaming System
(ALS), many were able to surpass these challenges and receive their “Diplomas” or TESDA.
Certificates.

Individuals who have cannot attend a formal education on a full-time basis, can have
certificates equivalent to the traditional elementary or high school diplomas. Livelihood
classes are also provided for practical skills such as dressmaking and massage therapy. After
passing an examination, they can have certificates from the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) which they can use as additional credentials in job
applications.

ALS has benefitted also our indigenous people. Examples of them are the Aetas of
Central Luzon.

It is strongly believed at this point that ALS has benefitted a lot of our fellow
Filipinos. However, itis also believed that we should not stop here.

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Presently, ALS is being provided in a number of Community Learning Centers of
each city or municipality. Unfortunately, classes for ALS are being held at Barangay Halls,
nipa huts, churches, covered basketball courts, markets and other make-shift places.

Its enhancement and full support from the government will enable ALS to reach its
maximum potential.

This bill proposes to establish permanent structures for the Community Leaming Centers
where classes for ALS may be held and to provide a permanent office/station for the teachers.



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. sia

Introduced by Rep. AURELIO "DONG" D. GONZALES, JR.

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ALTERNATIVE
LEARNING SYSTEM (ALS) COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS FOR EVERY
CITY AND MUNICIPALITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution (1) provides as a State policy that the State shall
give priority to education’; and (2) mandates that the State shall Encourage non-formal,
informal, and indigenous learning systems, as well as self-learning, independent, and out-of-
school study programs particularly those that respond to community needs and provide adult
citizens, the disabled, and out-of-school youth with training in civics, vocational efficiency,
and other skills’;

WHEREAS, in compliance with the above provisions of the 1987 Constitution, the
Alternative Learning System (ALS), being implemented by the Department of Education
through the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS), as duly sanctioned and
recognized by Batas Pambansa Bilang 232, Executive Order No. 117, S. 1987, Executive
Order No. 356, 2014;

WHEREAS, ALS had been significantly beneficial to deserving marginalized
individuals, members of the indigenous communities, out-of-school youths, and detention
prisoners;

WHEREAS, ALS classes are being conducted in Barangay Halls, nipa huts, churches,
covered basketball courts, markets and other make-shift places;

WHEREAS, a learning center (where ALS classes are being held) is vaguely defined

as a physical space to house learning resources and facilities of a learning program for out-of-

' Article 17, Article IL
? Paragraphs 4 & 5, Section 2, Article XIV


school youth and adults and a venue for face-to-face learning and activities and other learning
opportunities for community development and improvement of the people's quality of life’;

WHEREAS, it is imperative that such definition should be more concrete, specific
and refined;

WHEREAS, itis also imperative that learning centers should have a more permanent
building or site in order to uplift the dignity and morale, not only of the enrollees but also to
the Instructional Manager, teachers, facilitators, volunteers and other persons involved in the
implementation and development of ALS;

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “ALS Community
Learning Center Act of 2016.”

Section 2. Establishment of an Alternative Learning System (ALS) Community
Learning Center in Every Municipality and City. All existing ALS Community Learning
Centers (CLC) in all cities and municipalities shall have their own respective CLC buildings.

a. In case there is no existing ALS Community Center in city or municipality, the
mayor that city or municipality shall coordinate with the provincial or city officer
of the Department of Education (DepEd) to make a feasibility study for the
establishment of at least one ALS Community Learning Center.

b. Each city or municipality shall ensure the presence of a suitable location to be the
site of the ALS Community Learning Center. As much as possible, the ALS
Community Learning Center shall be situated at the center of the city or
municipality which is the place most accessible to the public.

c. Each ALS Community Learning Center shall be established and constructed
based on the specifications, criteria and details approved by the Department of
Education and the city and municipal mayors, provided, that a CLC building of
permanent in character shall be constructed for every ALS Community Learning
Center large enough to have one classroom for every thirty (30) ALS enrollees
and one room as office for the Instructional Manager, facilitator, teachers, and
other personnel of ALS with sufficient space for instructional materials and
resources.

d. Cities and Municipalities shall undertake the maintenance of the ALS
Community Learning Centers, and funding therefore shall be included in their
Annual Appropriations Ordinance.

Section 3. Functions of the ALS Community Learning Centers. — The ALS
Community Learning Centers shall have the following functions:

a. To be used as learning venues for the out-of school youths, adults and other
people in the community who want to leam basic literacy, livelihood skills
training and other informal education programs;

b. To offer such other related services in the furtherance of this Act.

> Par. (h), Section 4, Republic Act 9155


c. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be taken from the
funds available in the Department of Education and shall be included in the
General Appropriations Act of each succeeding year.

Section 4. Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Education shall, within a
period of sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, issue its implementing rules,
regulations and guidelines for this purpose.

Section 5. Appropriations. - Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act shall be taken from the fiznds available in the Department of Education and shall be
included in the General Appropriations Act of each succeeding year.

Section 6. Separability Clause. — f any provision or part thereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting.

Section 7. Repealing Clause. — All other laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules
and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

Section 8. _Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette on in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,
whichever comes earlier.