UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY

Biglang Awa St., Corner Catleya St., EDSA, Caloocan City

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

THE TEACHING PROFESSION

SUBJECT CODE: TC 002
TOPIC OR LESSON: THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF TEACHING
WEEK: 11
SUB-TOPIC/S:
1.1 Executive Order No. 356, Renaming the Bureau of Non-Formal Education to Bureau
of Alternative Learning System
1.2 Presidential Decree No. 6-A

OVERVIEW OF THE TOPIC

This topic focuses on two of the legal bases that promote educational development in
the Republic of the Philippines. It starts with the discussion of Executive Order No. 356
which is about Renaming the Bureau of Non-Formal Education to Bureau of Alternative
Learning System. From this discussion, you will have a deeper knowledge about the
laws and policies governing the ALS program. It also includes the objectives of the ALS
program and how does it work.

The next topic focuses on the Presidential Decree No. 6-A which is known as
“Educational Development Decree of 1972” signed by the late President Ferdinand
Marcos that provide for a broad general education that will assist each individual, in
the peculiar ecology of his own society by means of attaining his potential as a human
being, enhancing the range and quality of individual and group participation in the
basic functions of society and acquiring the essential educational foundation for his
development into a productive and versatile citizen of the Republic of the Philippines.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students are expected to apply the Executive Order No. 356, renaming the Bureau of
Non-Formal Education to Bureau of Alternative Learning System and Presidential
Decree No. 6-A in the practice teaching.

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 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

a. Internalize the organizational structure and governance of the educational

system.
b. Recognize the different act and laws on educational legislations: Executive
Order No. 356, Renaming the Bureau of Non-Formal Education to Bureau of
Alternative Learning System and Presidential Decree No. 6-A
c. Apply existing laws in the practice teaching.

ENGAGE

On the space provided below, explain how the following legal bases of the
teaching profession guide you as a teacher in our society.

Republic Act No. 7796

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Republic Act No. 9155

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 EXPLORE

Watch the documentary video about the “Mobile Teacher, Nagtuturo ng Alternative
Learning System sa mga Aeta sa Albay.” (https://youtu.be/H-4bbX6OSJ4). Then write
your insights about it.

EXPLAIN

Executive Order No. 356, s. 2004

Signed on September 13, 2004 by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

RENAMING THE BUREAU OF NON-FORMAL EDUCATION TO BUREAU OF ALTERNATIVE

LEARNING SYSTEM

WHEREAS, it is a declared State policy, “to protect and promote the right of all citizens
to quality basic education and to promote the right of all citizens to quality basic
education and such education accessible to all by providing all Filipino children in the
elementary level and free education in the high school level. Such education small also
include alternative learning system for out-of-school youth and adult learners.” (Section
2 of R.A. 9155, the Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001)

WHEREAS, Section 12.1 Rules XII of R.A. 9155 stipulates that “the alternative Learning
System is a parallel learning system to provide a viable alternative to the existing formal
education instruction, encompassing both the non-formal and informal sources of
knowledge and skills”;

WHEREAS, the Department of Education, through the Bureau of Non-formal Education is

mandated to ensure that all learning needs of marginalized learners are addressed;

WHEREAS, one of the most important initiatives in Non-formal Education in the

Philippines in the last 10 years is the Alternative Learning System (ALS), which is a major
component of basic education with a clearly defined role within the overall
educational goals;

WHEREAS, the ALS will respond to the need of a more systematic and flexible approach
in reaching to all types of learners outside the school system;

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, do hereby order the following:

SECTION 1. The Bureau of Non-formal Education is hereby renamed to Bureau of

Alternative Learning System (BALS).

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SEC. 2. The Bureau of Alternative Learning System shall have the following functions:

a. Address the learning needs of the marginalized groups of the population including
the deprived, depressed and underserved citizens;

b. Coordinate with various agencies for skills development to enhance and ensure
continuing employability, efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness in the labor
market;

c. Ensure the expansion of access to educational opportunities for citizens of different

interests, capabilities, demographic characteristics and socio-economic origins and
status; and

d. Promote certification and accreditation of alternative learning programs both formal

and informal in nature for basic education.

SEC. 3. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this Executive Order shall be taken
from the present funds available in the Department of Education and shall thereafter
be included in the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 4. All orders, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with this
Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. This Executive Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette.

Alternative Learning System (ALS)

The Alternative Learning System (ALS) is a free education program implemented by

the Department of Education (DepEd) under the Bureau of Alternative Learning
System which benefits those who cannot afford formal schooling and follows whatever
is their available schedule. The program provides a viable alternative to the existing
formal education instruction, encompassing both the non-formal and informal sources
of knowledge and skills.

Objective

ALS aims to open more educational opportunities for Filipino citizens of different
interests, capabilities of demographic characteristics, socioeconomic origins and status
as well as addressing the needs of marginalized groups.

The program cuts the time needed to finish high school, hence, significantly cuts the
expenses as well. Aside from giving hope to the less fortunate, it also provides
opportunities to Out-of-School Youths (OSY) and adults elementary and secondary
school drop-outs; industry-based workers; housewives; maids; factory workers; drivers;
members of cultural minorities; indigenous people and the disabled/physically
challenged.

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Training for instructional managers and coordinators are also provided by the program
and supports the learner’s accreditation and equivalency (A&E) reviews.

How does it work

In ALS, students have to attend 10 months of school or 800 hours in the classroom. Then
their performances are then assessed.

Since ALS is a module-based learning system, students come in on a set time and
choose a module to read. A quiz is given after each module to test their learning.
Instead of teachers, facilitators are always present to answer any questions and
sometimes lecturers would discuss a certain module. After several months, the students
will take the Accreditation and Equivalency Test (AET). If they pass the test, they will be
given a high school diploma and can now enroll in college.

ALS A&E Test

The ALS Accreditation and Equivalency ALS A&E test aims to offer learners two learning
achievements at two learning levels– Elementary and Secondary.

It is a paper and pencil-based test, using multiple choice and composition writing. The
test items are based on the learning competencies of the five learning strands of the
ALS Curriculum.

A first year high school dropout, boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao took and passed
the (AET) under the ALS program. He was presented a high school diploma, making
eligible to pursue college. He was then named as the DepEd’s Ambassador for the ALS
and People’s Champ for Education. According to Education Secretary, Jesli Lapus,
“Manny is an excellent model for all out-of-school children, youth and adults who are
determined to learn and are able to gain functional literacy skills outside of formal
schooling.”

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 6-A September 29, 1972

AUTHORIZING THE UNDERTAKING OF EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, PROVIDING

FOR THE MECHANICS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND FINANCING THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Signed by President Ferdinand Marcos

Section 1. Title. - This Decree shall be known as the "Educational Development Decree
of 1972."

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared to be the policy of the

government to ensure, within the context of a free and democratic system maximum

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contribution of the educational system to the attainment of the following national
development goals:

(a) To achieve and maintain an accelerating rate of economic development and

social progress;

(b) To assure the maximum participation of all the people in the attainment and
enjoyment of the benefits of such growth; and

(c) To strengthen national consciousness and promote desirable cultural values in a

changing world.

Section 3. Statement of Objectives. - To this end, the educational system aims to:

(a) Provide for a broad general education that will assist each individual, in the peculiar
ecology of his own society, to (1) attain his potential as a human being; (2) enhance
the range and quality of individual and group participation in the basic functions of
society; and (3) acquire the essential educational foundation for his development into
a productive and versatile citizen:

(b) Train the nation's manpower in the middle level skill required for national
development;

(c) Develop the high-level professions that will provide leadership for the nation,
advance knowledge through research, and apply new knowledge for improving the
quality of human life; and

(d) Respond effectively to changing needs and conditions of the nation through a
system of educational planning and evaluation.

Section 4. Guiding Principles of the Ten-Year Program. - In order to lay the foundation
and to advance the attainment of these objectives, a ten-year national education
development program shall be formulated based on the following:

(a) Improvement of curricular programs and quality of instruction of all levels by way of
upgrading physical faculties, adoption of cost-saving instructional technology, and
training and re-training of teachers and administrators;

(b) Upgrading of academic standards through accreditation schemes, admissions

testing and guidance counselling;

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(c) Democratization of access to educational opportunities through the provision of
financial assistance to deserving students, skills training programs for out-of-school youth
and continuing education program for non-literate adults;

(d) Restructuring of higher education to become more responsive to national

development needs through a planned system of incentives and assistance to both
public and private colleges and universities and synchronization of curricular programs,
staffing patterns and institutional development activities;

(e) Expansion of existing programs and establishment of new ones designed to train
middle-level technical and agricultural manpower; and

(f) Instituting reform in the educational financing system to facilitate the shift of funding
responsibility for elementary and secondary education from the national to the local
government, thereby increasing government participation in higher education.

Section 5. Educational Development Projects. - The above-stated objectives shall be

attained through the undertaking of the following educational development projects:

(a) Management study of the Department of Education and Culture and institution of
administrative improvements therein;

(b) Establishment and/or operation or improvement of secondary schools which may

include provision for extension services, facilities and equipment to allow the use of
expanded and improved curriculum;

(c) Establishment and/or operation, upgrading or improvement of technical institutes,

skills training centers, and other non-formal training programs and projects for the out-
of-school youth and the unemployed in collaboration with the programs of the National
Manpower and Youth Council;

(d) Curriculum and staff development including mathematics and science teaching;

(e) Expansion of agricultural secondary and higher education programs and extension
activities which may include radio broadcasting and rural training services, and the
provision of facilities therefore including seed capital and revolving funds;

(f) Design, utilization and improvement of instructional technology and

development/production of textbooks and other instructional materials; and

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(g) Assistance and incentives, including loans and grants, toward the planned
development and improvement of programs and facilities in both public and private
universities, colleges and schools.

In addition, other educational development projects necessary pursuant to the

objectives of this Decree are likewise to be undertaken: Provided, That for such projects
to qualify under this Decree, the same must be consistent with the principles
enunciated in Sec. 4 hereof, supported by sufficient studies, data and plans of
operation and implementation, endorsed by the National Board of Education to, and
approved by an Education Special Committee, hereinafter provided, to form part of
the educational development program.

Section 6. Working Arrangements. - For the attainment of the objectives of this Decree,
an Education Special Committee composed of the Secretary of Education and Culture
as Chairman and the Secretary of Finance and the Commissioner of the Budget as
members, if hereby created which shall:

(a) Approve and evaluate the specific projects, endorsed to it by the National Board of
Education, to be financed out of the resources provided for in this Decree; and

(b) Administer the Educational Institutions Development Fund as hereinafter provided,

except that the resources accruing into the Fund shall be managed by reputable fund
managers or financial institutions.

The National Board of Education, as reorganized pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1

dated September 24, 1972, shall, in addition to its functions, perform the following:

(a) Formulate education objectives and policies consistent with those enunciated in
Sec. 2 hereof; and

(b) Provide policy guidelines in the administration of the assistance and incentive
programs provided for in Sec. 5(g) hereof, which shall include a system of educational
priorities consistent with national, regional and/or local requirements for education and
skills training, and such other procedures and requirements as will ensure the continual
upgrading of the quality of education, the rationalization and institutional growth, and
the democratization of access to education.

In the discharge of its functions, the National Board of Education shall be assisted by an
office of planning and research known as Planning Service in the Department of
Education and Culture.

A project unit to be known as the Educational Development Projects Implementing Task

Force is hereby established under the Office of the Secretary of Education and Culture

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to be headed by a Director and be composed of technical staff members and such
consultants as are necessary. Its functions are:

(a) To supervise and implement foreign-assisted development projects; and

(b) To implement such other development projects as may be assigned to it by the

Secretary of Education and Culture.

Where the project involves an office, agency or instrumentality of the government other
than the Department of Education and Culture, appropriate working arrangements
shall be established by the Educational Department Projects Implementing Task Force
and the office, agency or instrumentality concerned, including the turnover of the
project upon its completion to such office, agency or instrumentality to be integrated
with and be part of the regular activities thereof.

Section 7. Authority to Borrow. - The President of the Philippines, in behalf of the

Republic of the Philippines, may contract loans, credits or indebtedness with any
foreign source or lender, under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon, any
provision of law, including Republic Act Numbered Forty-eight hundred and sixty as
amended by Republic Act Numbered Sixty-one hundred and forty-two, Act Numbered
Forty-two hundred and thirty nine, Commonwealth Act Numbered one hundred thirty-
eight, Commonwealth Act Numbered Five Hundred forty-one, Republic Act Numbered
Nine hundred twelve, Republic Act Numbered Fifty-one hundred eighty-three, and
other related laws to the contrary notwithstanding, for a total amount not exceeding
one hundred million United States dollars or the equivalent thereof in other currencies,
as may be necessary to meet the direct and indirect foreign exchange requirements of
the projects authorized under this Decree, to cover the costs of feasibility studies,
equipment, machineries, supplies, construction, installation and related services of any
such projects: Provided, That the loans, credit or indebtedness authorized herein shall
be incurred on terms of payment of not less than ten (10) years.

Section 8. Utilization of Proceeds. - The proceeds of such loans, credits or indebtedness,

as well as the appropriations under Sec. 9 hereof, shall be used exclusively for financing
the educational development projects authorized under this Decree: Provided, That for
the purpose of ensuring continued assistance to the planned development and
improvement of programs and facilities in both public and private universities, colleges
and schools, there is hereby authorized to be established an Educational Institutions
Development Fund in an amount of not less than ten million pesos ( 10,000,000),
Philippine currency, annually for a period of ten (10) years. The said Fund shall be
administered as a separate fund, and lending or relending operations to private
universities, colleges and schools shall be subject to the rules and regulations to be
promulgated by the National Board of Education with the approval of the Secretary of
Finance.

Cities, provinces and municipalities may undertake educational development projects

pursuant to the objectives of this Decree and are hereby authorized to avail themselves
of proceeds of loans, credits or indebtedness herein authorized as well as the

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appropriations under Sec. 9 hereof and receive financial assistance subject to such
conditions as may be provided for and/or promulgated by the National Board of
Education pursuant to this Decree.

Section 9. Appropriations. - In addition to the proceeds of the loans, credits or

indebtedness mentioned in Sec. 7 hereof, there is hereby appropriated for the projects
authorized herein the sum of five hundred million pesos (P500,000,000) out of the funds
in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated which shall be programmed and
released in the following manner: fifty million pesos (P50,000,000) for Fiscal Year 1972-73
and fifty million pesos (P50,000,000) annually thereafter until June thirty, nineteen
hundred eighty-two: Provided, That notwithstanding the said schedule, releases in a
given year shall be adjusted in accordance with the actual requirements of the
projects being implemented during the fiscal year: Provided, further, That should there
be any surplus in the annual appropriations herein provided, the same shall accrue to
the Educational Special Account herein created in the General Fund which shall be
made available to finance the projects during the subsequent fiscal years.

Section 10. Creation of Educational Special Account. - There is hereby established in

the National Treasury an Educational Special Account to meet the appropriations
herein provided, which shall be constituted from the following sources:

(a) Proceeds form bond issues as provided for under Section 11 of this Decree;

(b) Twenty million pesos (P20,000,000) annually from the share of the National
Government in the Special Education Fund under Republic Act Numbered Fifty-four
hundred forty-seven as provided in Section 12 hereof;

(c) Fifteen million pesos (P15,000,000) from the Special Science Fund for Fiscal Year
1972-73, and fifty percentum (50%), annually thereafter until June 30, 1982, of the total
annual receipts from the taxes provided for under Republic Act Numbered Fifty-four
hundred and forty-eight, as provided in Section 13 hereof;

(d) Future savings of the Department of Education and Culture that may result from the
implementation of reforms consequent to management study, as provided in Section
14 hereof; and

(e) Augmentations from the General Funds which are hereby authorized in cases where
the above sources are not sufficient to cover expenditures required in any year, as
provided in Section 15 of this Act.

The Department of Education and Culture is hereby authorized to receive and spend or
utilize donations and/or bequests made in pursuance of the purposes and for projects
enunciated in this Decree which donations and/or bequests shall be exempt from the
payment of gift taxes.

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Section 11. Bond Issues. - The Secretary of Finance may issue and sell bonds not
exceeding twenty million pesos annually under the authority of Republic Act Numbered
Four thousand eight hundred sixty-one, any provision of law to the contrary,
notwithstanding.

Section 12. Portions of the Special Education Fund. - Any provision of law to the contrary
notwithstanding, effective July 1, 1972, until June 30, 1982, twenty million pesos
(P20,000,000) of the annual share of the National Government from the Special
Education Fund provided for under Republic Act Numbered Fifty-four hundred and
forty-seven shall accrue to the Educational Special Account herein provided.
Thereafter, the said share shall accrue to the General Fund.

In this connection, the shares of the local governments from the said Fund may be used
by them to finance such projects as may be established in their locality under the
authority of this Decree regardless of any restriction imposed thereon.

Section 13. Portion of Special Science Fund. - Any provision of law to the contrary
notwithstanding, effective upon approval of this Decree, fifteen million pesos
(P15,000,000) of the Special Science Fund established under Republic Act Numbered
fifty-four-hundred and forty-eight as amended as hereby transferred to the Educational
Special Account herein provided. Starting July 1,1972, until June 30, 1982, fifty per
centum (50%) of the total collections from the taxes imposed under Republic Act
Numbered fifty-four hundred and forty-eight as amended shall accrued to the
Educational Special Account. Thereafter, said portion shall accrue to the General Fund.

Section 14. Future Savings. - Such amount of savings resulting from the implementation
of reforms consequent to the management study authorized under Sec. 5 as may be
necessary to prosecute the projects under this Decree shall accrue to the Educational
Special Account.

Section 15. Augmentation from General Fund. - In cases where funds from sources
specified in Section 10 (a), (b), (c) and (d) are not sufficient to meet the requirements in
any fiscal year, such amounts as are necessary to meet such requirements are hereby
appropriated out of the funds in the General Funds not otherwise appropriated, and
transferred to the Educational Special Account.

Section 16. Tax Exemption. - The loans, credits or indebtedness incurred pursuant to this
Decree, the payment of the principal, interests and other charges thereon, the earnings
of the fund created under Sec. 8, as well as the importation of articles, materials,
equipment, machineries and supplies, including all building materials by the
Department of Education and Culture or other offices, agencies or instrumentalities of
the government and by private or chartered entities authorized by Education Special
Committee to undertake the projects authorized in this Act shall be exempt from all
taxes, duties, fees, imposts, other charges and restrictions, including import restrictions,
imposed by the Republic of the Philippines or any of its agencies or political subdivisions.
The Secretary of Finance shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the
purpose.

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Section 17. Additional Appropriations. - There is hereby authorized to be appropriated,
out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may
be necessary to pay the principal, interests and other charges on the loans, credits or
indebtedness incurred under the authority of this Decree as and when they become
due.

Section 18. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules or regulations or parts
thereof which are inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed and/or modified
accordingly.

Section 19. Effectivity. - This Decree shall take effect immediately.

ELABORATE

I. Read carefully the Section 2 on Executive Order No. 356. If you will be part of the
Bureau of Alternative Learning System, how will you perform your stated
functions?
FUNCTION A:
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FUNCTION B:
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FUNCTION C:
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FUNCTION D:
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 II. In your own opinion, what is the implication of the Presidential Decree No. 6-A in
our present educational system?
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EVALUATE

Make a research about an individual who took and passed DepEd ALS A&E Test. Take
note of the following:

- The reason why he/she decided to take DepEd ALS A&E Test
- How it changed his/her life

Then, after that write your own insights and realizations from what you have researched
about him/her which you think will help you understand the value of education and
how you will inculcate these to your future students.

Write your answer in a paragraph form.

RUBRIC FOR EVALUATION SCORE

3– The 2 – The 1– The explanation 0.5 – The 0–
explanation is explanation is is quite relevant to explanation is not Has no
RELEVANCE

directly relevant relevant to the the topic. Only few clear and has a explanation
to the topic. Every topic. Most of the of the details very rough
detail points details contribute contribute to the transition of idea.
toward the topic. to the development of The details are
development of the topic. not relevant to
the topic. the topic.
3– The 2– The 1– The explanation 0.5 – The 0–
ARGUMENT
EVIDENCE/

explanation shows explanation shows at 3 to 5 explanation Has no

at least 9 shows at least 6 correct/valid shows at most 2 explanation
correct/valid to 8 correct/valid evidences to correct/valid
evidences to evidences to support his/her evidences to
support his/her support his/her answer. support his/her
answer. answer. answer.

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 2– The 1.5 – The 1– The explanation 0.5 – The 0–
explanation is explanation is is somewhat clear explanation is not Has no
CLARITY clear, has a very clear, has a good and has a rough clear and has a explanation
good flow of transition, most of transition from one very rough
discussion, every the details are idea to another. transition of
detail is connected to ideas.
connected to each other.
each other.
2– The 1.5 – The 1– The explanation 1.5 – The 0–
TECHNI-

explanation has explanation has 1 has 3 to 4 errors in explanation has Has no

CALITY

no error in to 2 errors in grammar, spelling, at least 5 errors in explanation

grammar, spelling, grammar, and punctuations. grammar,
and punctuations. spelling, and spelling, and
punctuations. punctuations.
OVERALL SCORE:

REFERENCES

Purita P. Bilbao, EdD

Brenda B. Corpuz, PhD
Avelina T. Llagas, EdD
Gloria G. Salandanan, PhD (2019). The Teaching Profession. Lori Mar Publishing

Greg Tablos Pawilen

(2019) The Teaching Profession Passion and Mission Second Edition. Rex Publishing

ADDITIONAL
MATERIALS

Mobile Teacher, Nagtuturo ng Alternative Learning System sa mga Aeta sa Albay.”

https://youtu.be/H-4bbX6OSJ4

Executive Order No. 356 s. of 2004

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2004/09/13/executive-order-no-356-s-2004/

Alternative Learning System

https://alscatanduanes.wordpress.com/about/

Presidential Decree No. 6-A September 29, 1972

https://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68
331:presidential-decree-no--6-a&catid=94&Itemid=739

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PREPARED BY:

Ms. Desiree S. Isidro Ms. Rosell P. Cultivo

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