THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) has inaugurated the first DepEd-funded Alternative Learning System (ALS) Community Learning Center in Barangay Sto. Niño, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.

According to DepEd, the facility aims to make education more accessible to out-of-school youth, learners facing difficult circumstances, and adult learners seeking a second chance at education.

The two-story facility, built at a cost of P16.5 million, stands on a one-hectare property donated by the Local Government of Sablayan.

Designed as a Type 5 ALS Community Learning Center, the hub will serve not only ALS learners but also the wider community through various learning, training, and resource-sharing activities.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the inauguration reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that no Filipino is deprived of the opportunity to learn simply because they were unable to complete formal schooling.

“Every learner has a story. Some had to stop schooling to help their families earn a living. Some became parents at a young age. Others live in communities where access to education remains a challenge. None of these circumstances should define the limits of their future,” Angara said.

“For our ALS learners, this is more than a building; it is a place where dreams that were once put on hold can move forward again. It is where skills can be developed, qualifications can be earned, and new opportunities can begin. This facility proves that the government recognizes their aspirations and is actively investing in their future,” he added.

Before the center’s establishment, ALS learners in Sablayan attended classes in various community learning sites in Poblacion, Sto. Niño, Tabuk, Tuban, and Buenavista.

The project was made possible through the collaboration of DepEd, the Local Government of Sablayan, the Provincial Government of Occidental Mindoro, UNICEF Philippines, and other partners committed to advancing inclusive and equitable education.