The Alternative Learning Systems Unit of Davao City was created through Executive Order (E.O.) 46 issued by Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte on September 20.
E.O 46, otherwise known as “An Executive Order Creating The Alternative Learning Systems Unit of Davao City, Defining Its Functions, And For Other Purposes,” was issued to address a number of Filipino children and youth who cannot avail of formal basic education or those who are unable to sustain school attendance, and eventually drop out of school despite the increasing accessibility of formal basic education.
The Department of Education offers Flexible Learning Options, including the Alternative Delivery Codes and the Alternative Learning System, to help address the pressing concern.
Mayor Duterte, in her E.O., said, “There is a need to create an Alternative Learning System Unit of this city in order to facilitate the Alternative Learning System- Education Skills Training (hereinafter referred to as “ALS-EST Program in the city”).
Section 455 of Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 states that the local chief executive is authorized to issue such executive orders necessary for the proper enforcement and execution of laws and ordinances.
E.O. 46 also cites Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which provides that the State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all as well as Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9155.
It also attributed the Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001, which provides that it is a declared policy of the State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality basic education and to make such education accessible to all by providing all Filipino children free and compulsory education in the elementary level and free education in the high school level. Such education shall also include alternative learning systems for out-of-school youth and adult learners. It shall be the goal of basic education to provide them with the skills, knowledge, and values they need to become caring, self-reliant, productive, and patriotic citizens.
Mayor Duterte said the Alternative Learning System Unit shall be composed of the city mayor as chairperson, Sangguniang Panlungsod chairperson on the Committee of Education as co-chairperson, and the Public Schools District Supervisor and Division Alternative Learning System Focal Person as focal persons. The members are the public Employment Service Office, City Information Technology Center, Schools Division Superintendent, Department of Education — Region 11, Association of Barangay Captain (ABC) president; and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) president.
She said that all members of the ALS Unit are hereby directed to name their respective alternate and permanent representatives who shall take their place in case of their absence.
The ALS Unit will formulate programs, policies, and strategies for the implementation of the ALS-EST Program in the city; prepare short, medium, and long term plans in relation to the implementation of the programs, policies, and strategies of the ALS-EST Program in the city; monitor and evaluate the implementation of the ALS-EST program and plans, campaigns, and strategies; encourage out-of-school youth identified by the ALS Division to avail of the ALS-EST Program, and recommend to the Sangguniang Panlungsod the enactment of ordinances which shall assist in and ensure the proper implementation of the ALS-EST Program.
It shall also recommend allocation of resources and ensure appropriate funds; act as the primary arm that shall represent the city in all conventions, conferences, forums, or gathering of other agencies, organizations, leagues, chambers, or grouping whether national, local, or international pertaining to the ALS-EST Program; closely monitor the number of out-of-school youth in every Barangay of this city; closely monitor the number of out-of-school youth in every Barangay of this city in coordination with the appropriate office; and act as the custodian of the gadgets and resources that will be entrusted by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) prior to its award and turnover to qualified beneficiaries of the ALS-AST Program.
The Office of the City Mayor will serve as the ALS Unit Secretariat, which is mandated to serve as the center of communication of the ALS Unit by facilitating the receiving and dissemination of information from and to members of the ALS Unit, and other concerned personnel or agencies; and document and take the minutes of all meetings.
The mayor also designated the Davao City Division ALS Community Learning Center as the facility for the ALS-EST Program of this city.
All operational costs of the unit will be sourced from the available funds of the City Government of Davao subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
Check the full provisions of E.O. 46 at https://dcstaging.davaocity.gov.ph/transparency/executive-orders/2021-executive-orders/. CIO
