House approves bill adding adult education to 4Ps

Jose Gaitan Gandeleca joins the graduation march (left) at Dr. Catalino G. Nava Memorial High School in San Lorenzo, Guimaras, on Nov. 17. The Department of Education says the 90-year-old former village chief and English crossword geek is the oldest student to finish junior high school under its Alternative Learning System. —PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE KAREN DULLA CASTILLO

MANILA, Philippines – House Bill (HB) No. 8497, aiming to incorporate an adult education component into the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), received approval on its third and final reading with an overwhelming 236 votes.

The bill, ratified on Tuesday, seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 11310, otherwise known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Act.

“4Ps is the national government’s flagship poverty reduction initiative. The bill amends Section 2 of RA No.11310 so that the law
may promote education among adult male beneficiaries through Alternative Learning System, entrepreneurship training, and employment training to achieve sustainable development,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said.

He further highlighted the provision for a community mobilization grant, explaining that this cash transfer “must not be lower than P500 per instance per adult beneficiary of the adult education program.”

Among the bill’s principal authors are Reps. Wilbert Lee, Gus Tambunting, Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, Linabelle Ruth Villarica, and several others.

Currently, the 4Ps initiative offers conditional cash transfer grants to children enrolled in different educational levels. The newly approved measure specifically outlines the adult education component of the 4Ps law, requiring “at least one adult beneficiary to join and complete” one of several adult education tracks. These tracks include:

1. Non-formal education via the Alternative Learning System (ALS) track of the Department of Education (DepEd).
2. Entrepreneurship track coordinated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
3. Employment track spearheaded by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or its accredited partners.

The bill defines adult education as interventions geared towards improving qualifications, knowledge, and skills in various fields such as the alternative learning system track, entrepreneurship track, or employment track. The legislation emphasizes starting adult education from the second year of 4Ps enrollment.

Further provisions in the bill cater to post skills training post-completion of the selected adult education track. Those completing the entrepreneurship track will receive assistance from the DTI for starting businesses, while beneficiaries of the employment track will be provided job facilitation assistance by the Department of Labor and Employment.

Additionally, those who complete non-formal education through the ALS track will receive support in their pursuit of higher education or employment.