The Alternative Learning System (ALS) Pasacao District, in collaboration with the Department of Education and the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, held the Blessing and Inauguration Ceremony of the newly constructed and modernized ALS Building on January 22, 2025 at Sta. Rosa Del Norte, Pasacao, Camarines Sur.

Through the efforts of Camarines Sur Governor Luigi Villafuerte and 2nd District Representative Lray Villafuerte, the very first community learning center was realized and established in Camarines Sur. “This will be a trademark of milestone in Pasacao and this shows our commitment to enhancing the ALS teachers and learners, most especially. Dai po kami masawa ni Congressman Lray sa paghanap nin pondo para sa mga proyektong arog kaini na matao nin progreso sa mga kahimanwa niato,” shared Governor Luigi.

According to Ricardo Tejeresas, Education Program Supervisor Regional ALS Focal Person, “Abot po ang aking pasasalamat dahil ang kauna-unahang gusali ng ALS ay naisakatuparan na dito sa Camarines Sur. Ito po ay napakahalagang aspeto na kung saan ang ating mga out-of-school [youth] ay magkakaroon ng kanilang sariling paaralan upang maramdaman nila na sila’y mga totoong estudyante.”

He added, “Ako po ay nagpapasalamat dahil sa matagal nang panahon, ang ating mag-aaral sa ALS ay kung saan-saan lamang sila nagkaklase. Pero ngayon, makikita natin na buo at kumpleto na ang [gusali]. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa pamumuno ng ating gobernador sa patuloy pong pagsuporta sa ating layunin na ang mga out-of-school ay patuloy na makapag- aral.”

To date, the ALS Pasacao District has a total of 680 learners in Elementary and Junior High School, and a total of 175 learners in Senior High School. With gratitude, 36-year-old Michelle Borromeo, one of the Senior High School students of ALS and a resident of Caranan, Pasacao, shared, “Dakulaon pong privilege na nakaklase po ako sa ALS. Dakula pong pasalamat na igwa palan pong arog kaining programa ang DepEd para po sa mga arog ming out-of-school youth or mga haloy nang nagpundo sa pagklase pero gusto pang magpadagos.”

“Dati po, diyan kami sa Pasacao National High School nakikikaklase. Medyo mainit saka sadit, kaya bilang estudyante nasasakitan po kami. Dakulang tabang talaga ining building dahil pag may mga events po kami na kaipuhan gibuhon, dai na po kami masasakitan maghanap ning lugar na pagdadausan kasi igwa na po talagang para sa ALS,” he added.

During the inauguration ceremony, Governor Luigi also provided laptops to the learning facilitators and pledged a set of televisions to fully equip the new building. In the near future, more ALS buildings will be established in other congressional districts of Camarines Sur.

As stated under Republic Act 11510 or the Alternative Learning System Act, out-of-school children, youth, and adults shall be provided with opportunities to acquire free and complete basic education in a non-formal setting. It also states that the DepEd and the local government are responsible for providing a Community Learning Center (CLC) for them to have a venue for learning activities.