Duterte signs Alternative Learning System Act

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law the measure that seeks to institutionalize the Alternative Learning System (ALS), Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Monday night.

Under the Alternative Learning System Act, Republic Act No. 11510, the Department of Education (DepEd), 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.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture, earlier said that the measure would serve as a step closer for millions of “out-of-school children in special cases” and adults to complete their basic education.

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.

Aside from the ALS Act, Sotto said the President also signed the “Doktor Para sa Bayan Act,” “Amendments to Organic Agriculture Act of 2010,” and the measure authorizing the President to expedite the processing and issuance of national and local permits, licenses and certifications in times of national emergency.

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