A neophyte solon expressed elation over the passage of a measure that seeks to include adult education in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) benefits.

According to AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee, one of the principal authors of House Bill No. 8497, the proposed legislation aims to “empower beneficiaries of the 4Ps to enable them to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty” by promoting education among adult beneficiaries through the Alternative Learning System (ALS), entrepreneurship training, and employment training to achieve sustainable development.

“Adult education refers to interventions that improve technical or professional qualifications, further develop abilities, acquire or enrich knowledge, skills and competencies in a new field through the Alternative Learning System track, entrepreneurship track, or employment track,” Lee said.

“Sa pamamagitan nito, mabibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon na makatayo sa sarili nilang mga paa at magkaroon ng maayos na hanapbuhay para sa hinaharap. Hindi na nila kailangang umasa sa doleouts mula sa gobyerno para lamang mabuhay,” he added.

HB 8497 provides that at least one adult beneficiary per family must join and complete any of the following tracks of adult education: non-formal education through the ALS track of the Department of Education (DepEd); entrepreneurship track of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); or employment track of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) or their accredited private sector and civil society organizations.

The availment of adult education shall commence on the second year of enrollment in the 4Ps.

The ALS track refers to a parallel learning system that provides a viable alternative to the existing formal education instruction and encompasses both non-formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills.

The entrepreneurship track, meanwhile, refers to interventions which focus on the establishment of micro-enterprise through enhancement of skills, provision of financial capital and building or re-building physical and natural assets, and which covers product development, marketing, and basic business finance.

The employment track refers to programs through which learners and workers are provided with learning opportunities to acquire, upgrade, or both, their ability, knowledge and behavior pattern required as qualifications for a job or range of jobs in a given occupational area.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas