cas

{ * RECEIVED @ \
3 17

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILL No, 8039

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

There are currently around four million out of school youth (OSY) in the
country or persons aged 15 to 30 years who are not attending school, have not
finished any college or post-secondary course, and are not working. While the
government continues to push forward initiatives for 100% inclusive education
that leaves no Filipino behind, there is a percentage of our youth population that
are unable to secure an education, or complete the same.

The State avows in its 1987 Constitution to protect and promote the right
of alll citizens to quality education at all levels, and to take appropriate steps to
make such education accessible to all. The State also recognizes human capital
as its best national resource, and has increasingly invested to produce an
educated citizenry which eventually translates to a competitive labor force and
discerning electorate, among others. It is hereby the burden of the State to reach
out to its out-of-school youth and present them with new opportunities to improve

their lives.

In pursuit of the aforementioned mandate, this bill seeks to institutionalize
the Abot-Alam Program of the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure that
our out-of-school youth will be provided resources to enhance their potential
regardless of financial or other constraints. Through this program, DepEd


identifies the OSY with the help of select elementary and high school teachers,
locates them through a Barangay Abot-Alam Targeting System, and meets with
them to determine their goals and interests.

Upon assessment, a potential Abot-Alam beneficiary chooses whether
he/she intends to pursue further education or is keener on entrepreneurship or
employment opportunities. The out-of-school youth will then be linked to the
respective public or private entity that best matches his/her chosen pursuit.

Since its commencement in 2014, 1.9 million OSY have been identified
and mapped, with over 400,000 OSY already enrolled under various programs in
education, employment and entrepreneurship. Some are pursuing tertiary
education, or undergoing trainings under the Technical Education and Skills
Authority (TESDA). By institutionalizing this reform initiative, a zero-OSY
Philippines as envisioned by DepEd in coordination with the National Youth
Commission (NYC), other government agencies and the private sector is now

within reach.

The bill reaffirms the State's commitment to engage the youth in nation-
building, and endeavors to support their potential for success. It is also a
counterpart to Senate Bill No. 1022 filed by Senator Grace Poe under the same
title.

In consideration of the foregoing premises, its speedy approval of is
hereby sought.

LUIS UND 4 Y” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6039

HOUSE BILL No. 2™*

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE “ABOT-ALAM” PROGRAM
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

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 “Abot-Alam Act of
2017".

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy ~ It is a declared policy of the State to
protect and promote the right of all citizens, especially the poor and the
marginalized, to quality education at all levels. The State also recognizes the
primordial role of the youth in nation-building. Therefore, the “Abot-Alam”
program of the Department of Education is hereby institutionalized and
recognized as a means to provide education to out-of-school youths and adults
who have neither undergone nor completed basic education, and to other
individuals who cannot be adequately served by the formal educational system.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms — As used in this Act, the following terms shall

be defined as follows:


a) “Abot-Alam” refers to the “Abot-Alam” program of the Department of
Education which is institutionalized under Section 4 of this Act;

b) “Abot-Alam Enlisted Learners” or “Enlisted Learners” refers to
individuals, whether out-of-school youths or adults who have neither
undergone nor completed basic education, who are enrolled in any of
the components of the Abot-Alam Program.

¢) “Abot-Alam Partner” or “Partners” refers to individuals, groups,

organizations or agencies (e.g. LGUs, NGOs, private
institutions/companies, religious groups, etc.) implementing the Abot-
Alam Program in different areas using their own resources and/or
which provide technical assistance or other resources in support of the
Program at any level;
d) “Barangay Abot-Alam Targeting System” or “Targeting System” refers
to the comprehensive database of OSY established under Section 5 of
this Act.

e) “Alternative Delivery Modes’, as defined and adopted from Department
of Education Order No. 54, s. 2012, refers to alternative modalities of
delivering education which allows schools to deliver quality education
to marginalized students and those at risk of dropping out in order to
help them overcome personal, social and economic constraints in their
schooling. It shall include, without limitation, the following:

1. Enhanced Instructional Management Parents, Communities and
Teachers (E-IMPACT);

2. Modified In-School Off-School Approach (MISOSA); and


3. Open High School Program (OHSP)

f) “Alternative Learning System” as defined and adopted from Republic
Act No. 9155, otherwise known as the Governance of Basic Education
Act of 2001, is a parallel learning system to provide a viable alternative
to the existing formal education instruction. It encompasses both the
non-formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills;

g) “Out-of-School Youth” or “OSY" refers to individuals who are 7 to 24
years of age who are not enrolled in formal schooling.

SECTION 4. Institutionalization of the Abot-Alam Program — There is hereby
established a nationwide program to be known as the “Abot-Alam” Program,
herein referred to as “the Program”.

SECTION 5. Objectives — The Program aims to

a) Create a comprehensive database of OSY in the country by
organizing a Barangay Abot-Alam Targeting System;

b) Unify and harmonize the efforts and resources of all agencies and
organizations directed towards providing education and training for

OSY in the country;

c) Ensure that all OSYs have access to programs and services of

different agencies and organizations; and

) Integrate adults who have neither undergone nor completed formal

education in the Program.

SECTION 6. Coverage — The Act shall cover:


a) Out-of-School Youths;
b) Marginalized students who are at risk of dropping out; and
c) Adults who have neither undergone nor finished basic education.

SECTION 7. Barangay Abot-Alam Targeting System - A comprehensive
database of OSYs in the country is hereby established. The targeting system
shall be based on information collected and updated by Barangays on OSYs in
their jurisdiction, in coordination with the relevant Public Schools District
Supervisors and School Heads. The database shall be updated annually and
shall include information such as one's name, age, location, and learning needs.
All information shall be submitted to and consolidated by the Philippine Statistics
Authority.

Existing enrollees of the Program need not be included in the database.
SECTION 8. Components — The Program shall have three (3) modalities:

a.) ALS-Education- a community-based ALS program which helps
Enlisted Learners to acquire basic reading, writing, numeracy skills and
the ability to read with comprehension and solve simple numeracy

problems.

Enlisted Learners under this program shall undergo an accreditation
and equivalency test before and after the program duration which will
measure their learning competency. Passers of the test shall be given
a diploma certifying their competencies as comparable graduates of
the formal school system and shall be considered qualified to enroll in
secondary and post-secondary schools.


This program shall be implemented by the Department of Education
(DepEd), in coordination with interested Partners.

b.) ALS-Entrepreneurship- an ALS program which provides livelihood and
entrepreneurship training and assistance to Enlisted Learners. This
shall be a joint program of the Department of Education and
Department of Trade and Industry (DT!), in coordination with interested

Partners.

c.) ALS Technical-Vocational and Employment Program- an ALS program
which provides technical-vocational skills training to Enlisted Learners.
This shall be a joint program of the Department of Education and
Technical and Vocational Education and Skills Development Authority
in coordination with interested Partners.

SECTION 9. Utilization of Alternative Delivery Modes — The Department of
Education and concerned Partners shall, in addition to formal, school-based
modes of delivering education, maximize the utilization of Alternative Delivery

Modes of education.

SECTION 10. Program Implementation - DepEd Division Offices, in
consultation with all concemed Partners, shall map and provide information on all
of the ALS programs of intervention that they are offering in their jurisdiction and
match the needs of Enlisted Leamers with the available programs mapped;

SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations — Within thirty (30) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Education, Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority, and the Department of Trade and Industry, in
consultation with relevant government agencies and partners, shall promulgate
the rules and regulations for the effective regulation of this Act.


SECTION 12. Appropriations - An amount of Ten Million Pesos (Php
10,000,000.00) is hereby allocated for the initial implementation of this act. Such
amounts as may be necessary for the continuing implementation of this Act shall
be included as a separate line-item under the appropriations of the Department
of Education under the General Appropriations Act and may be augmented by
grants, donations and endowments from domestic and foreign sources, pursuant

to existing laws and regulations.

SECTION 13. Separability Clause — |f any provision of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall

remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 14. Repealing Clause - All laws, executive orders, rules and
regulations inconsistent with or contrary to this Act, are hereby deemed

accordingly repealed or amended.
SECTION 15. Effectivity Clause — This Act shall take effect upon its approval
and completion of publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,