Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez on Tuesday praised President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing into law of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Act that institutionalizes ALS, a parallel learning system for non-formal sources of knowledge and skills.
Rep. Yedda, chairperson of the House committee on welfare of children and a principal author of the measure, said: “The enactment into law of the Alternative Learning System Act is a win for the millions of out-of-school children, youth, and adult learners, as well as Madrasah students, indigenous peoples, learners with disabilities, and other marginalized sectors.
“This law will strengthen the State support and mechanisms so our learners will be able to complete the appropriate and functional literacy, life skills and basic education they deserve.
“The passage of this priority measure of Tingog party-list is a signal of hope for the future of our marginalized learners.
“But more importantly, this is a signal that we have to work harder to ensure that our learners would directly benefit from this law and that the long-term goals of this measure will be realized.”
Meanwhile, President Duterte has signed into law a measure that will establish a scholarship program for poor students aspiring to become doctors and three other measures.
Malacañang said the President signed “Doktor Para sa Bayan Act” or Republic Act 11509. which grants scholarships to deserving students aspiring to become physicians.
It seeks to encourage students to take up medicine and help improve the country’s doctor-patient ratio.
Majority Leader Romualdez, who represents his Leyte congressional district, also a principal author, meanwhile, lauded the President for prioritizing the passage of this legislation.
“President Duterte’s approval of this measure is consistent with his commitment to improve the lives of the Filipino people, especially our learners who wanted to pursue non-formal education. This is a step towards the fulfillment of our goal to provide education for all,” Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules said.
“Through this law, the government will not just support our ‘out-of-school children in special cases’ and adults, but also ALS teachers,” he added.
Under the Alternative Learning System Act, the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management and the Civil Service Commission, shall create teaching positions and allocate corresponding salary grades to help strengthen the ALS Teachers Program. ALS teachers will also be entitled to promotion to the next higher levels based on the qualification standards of the CSC.
Out-of-school children in special cases are children of official school age who are not enrolled in elementary or secondary schools due to economic, geographic, political, and cultural factors, and even social barriers.
They can also include learners with disabilities or conditions, indigenous peoples, children in conflict with the law, and other marginalized sectors.
Apart from the ALS Act, Duterte also signed the law authorizing the
President to expedite the processing and issuance of National and local permits, licenses and certifications in times of national emergency (RA 11517).
RA 11571 gives the President special powers to fast-track the issuance of permits, licenses and certifications in times of national emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new law allows the President during national emergencies to “accelerate and streamline regulatory processes,” and “suspend or waive the requirements” for permits, licenses and certifications or authorizations.