Philex Mining pledges support to alternative learning in Benguet

By Thet R. Mesias

TUBA, Benguet -- Philex Mining Corp. (PMC) has pledged continuous support to the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Alternative Learning System (ALS), particularly in the province of Benguet– home to its 53-year old Padcal operations.

           

The mining firm, in collaboration with The Indigenous Host Communities Association (Philex Outlying Sitios), Inc. (TIHCAPOSI), is exemplifying what Davao del Norte ALS supervisor Lourdes Navarro called ‘best practices’ in the delivery of ALS through public-private partnership during a recent inter-regional monitoring held in Tuba, Benguet.

           

Benguet Division ALS supervisor Pepe S. Tubal said the program needs support from the private sector in order to be productive and sustainable. “We need partners like Philex and TIHCAPOSI to augment our resources and we welcome other stakeholders in promoting and upholding literacy in the region,” he stressed.

           

“Philex Mining has been supporting this national program since 2007. From a total of 191 ALS learners whom we have assisted from ourhost and neighboring communities, 97 learners have already passed the ALS Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Tests,” said PMC Community Relations manager Jun Diso, adding the company has already invested an estimated Php300,000 for this program.

 During the recent ALS Regional Awarding Ceremony of DepEd-CAR held in La Trinidad Benguet, Philex-TIHCAPOSI bagged the ‘Outstanding Literacy Program.’ TIHCAPOSI president Miguel Juan accepted the award in behalf of the indigenous host communities of Philex. The association’s ALS Mobile Teaching Literacy Program was also hailed the regional winner for the Outstanding Literacy Program Category during the 14th National Literacy Award 2010.

           

This partnership has enabled rolling out of practical and valuable skills enhancement programs for learners from underprivileged communities, commented the TIHCAPOSI representative.

Diso emphasized that ALS is basically teaching learners how to live. In the absence of formal education, students are encouraged to attend learning interventions to upgrade their knowledge and skills from experiences. ALS A&E Tests passers are given the chance to “mainstream in the educational system of the country.”

           

Last month, the mining firm together with DepEd-CAR, Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS) and TIHCAPOSI recognized around 30 ALS students who took up a two-week course on Information and Communications Technology (ICT), mug/shirt printing, paper beads and fossilized flower, and online marketing.

           

Diso said these livelihood components – as suggested by TIHCAPOSI – are integrated in the ALS standard modules. ALS teaches OSYs and adult learners to be well rounded and, to some extent, help alleviate poverty in the country, added Remy N. Dum-ao, Education chairman of TIHCAPOSI.

           

The next run of the Philex-TIHCAPOSI livelihood workshop for ALS will include short courses on basic welding, auto-mechanics, and other industrial skills. The team is planning a mini-trade fair by July to showcase the learners’ products. The company, through ALS and TIHCAPOSI, will also conduct a bridging program to prepare the ALS graduates for college education.

           

ALS learner Jennifer E. Fesway said the livelihood component of ALS program could help college graduates like her acquire additional skills. These home-based possible income generators come in handy with today’s high unemployment rate and ‘dog-eat-dog’ job market, she pointed out.

           

DepEd recently announced that the 2012 ALS A&E tests for both elementary and secondary levels in CAR will be conducted in October 21this year.