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House Bill No, 2733 BEDE TRATION UNIT
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Introduced by CONGRESSMAN 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 Alternative Learning 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 Actas of
Central Luzon,

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

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 Learning Centers
where classes for ALS may be held and to provide a permanent office/station for the teachers.

Congressnfaat AUREL

G" D. GONZALES, Jr.


17" CONGRESS
House Bill No._2'733
Introduced by CONGRESSMAN AURELIO "DONG" 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 Ordor 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 tine fy a

physical space to house learning resources and facilities of a learning program for out- ol
outh and adults and_a venue for face-to-face learning and activities and other een

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, it is also imperative that leaming 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.

TAniele 17, Anicle 1
2 Paragraph 4 & 5, Section 2, Article XIV
* Par. (t), Section 4, Republic Act 9155


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 learn basic literacy, livelihood skills training and
other informal education programs;

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

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 funds available in the Department of Education and shall be included in
the General Appropriations Act of each succeeding year.

Section 6. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision ot 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.