2017 Community-Based Caravan for Alternative Learning System (ALS)

                         Every Filipino has a right to quality basic education. Our government shall promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels of learning. The state shall take appropriate steps to make education accessible to all learners. Such education also includes Alternative Learning System (ALS). Clienteles may gain skills, knowledge and values they need to become caring, self reliant, productive and patriotic citizen of our country through ALS program.

To provide education accessible for all, raise the level of literacy in the target area and facilitate learning through alternative modes, advocacy and social mobilization is intended. It aims to secure and generate support from possible stake holders and sustain the participation of all people in the community or society.

Division –based community caravan was proposed. Proposal and the required attachments   were prepared and submitted. After it has been approved, ALS implementers were busy doing their assigned tasks. Letters for concerned parties were distributed. Programs and invitations had been managed to print and disseminate together with the caravan t-shirts.

 The ALS Community Caravan was carried out last July 26, 2017. Malabia covered court served as assembly place where all participants including ALS learners, barangay officials (Kagawad in committee on education and Punong Barangays) ALS staff and other invited guests gathered. After the attendance was checked and group pictures were taken the motorcade started with the Balanga City Marshals leading the way.

The motorcade went well, in spite of the heavy rain. Twenty barangays were visited to promote the programs and projects of ALS, as well as to encourage Out-of-School Children Youth and Adult (OSCYA) to avail the services offered by ALS Balanga.

The second part of the caravan is the symposium attended by Dr. Carolina S. Violeta, OIC-Schools Division Superintendent of City of Balanga with her Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Armando V. Capili; Education supervisors headed by the Curriculum Implementation Division (CID) Chief, Dr. Merlinda T. Tablan; school heads, ALS learners and passers, Barangay chairmen and kagawads, General Services Office (GSO) representatives; Mr. Alexander A. Baclig, the Senior TESD Specialist of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA);  Mr. Rodolfo H. De Mesa, Balanga City Administrator; Councilor Victor A. Baluyot Jr., Chairman of the Committee on Education, and ALS implementers.

The symposium was commenced by the singing of the national anthem followed by an invocation. Words of wisdom from the pillars of education were heard. Heartfelt sharing of success stories from ALS passers, Marilou Famuleras and Joseph Yumul, brought tears but ignite the spirit of the participants most specially the ALS learners.

A short description of ALS was made by Mrs. Irene P. Aranas, the District ALS Coordinator (DALSC) for the participants to understand the important facts regarding ALS. Mr. Fernan B. Lezada, Mobile Teacher, gave a report about the accomplishments of ALS for the year 2016 and 2017.

The Turn-Over Ceremony of the 17 High Speed Sewing Machine was headed by Dr. Carolina S. Violeta, Mr. Rodolfo H. De Mesa and Mr. Ernesto T. Robles Jr., Education Program Supervisor-ALS. The said 17 machines will be used by ALS Balanga in bringing skills training in all barangays to make not only their OSYAs but also the unemployed women in their community more productive.

ALS passer, Juliana Marie S. Baluyot, amazed everyone with her voice as she sang in the middle of the program.

The caravan ended with the distribution of certificates and simple lunch.