AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee on Sunday hailed the passage of the bill that seeks to include adult education in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps benefits.

Lee, the principal author of House Bill 8497, said the proposed law aims to empower 4Ps beneficiaries to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty by promoting education through the Alternative Learning System, entrepreneurship training, and employment training to achieve sustainable development.

“Adult education refers to interventions that improve technical or professional qualifications, further develop abilities, acquire or enrich knowledge, skills and competencies in a new field through the Alternative Learning System track, entrepreneurship track, or employment track,” Lee said.

“Sa pamamagitan nito, mabibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon na makatayo sa sarili nilang mga paa at magkaroon ng maayos na hanapbuhay para sa hinaharap. Hindi na nila kailangang umasa sa doleouts mula sa gobyerno para lamang mabuhay,” he added.

“Kaya naman nagpapasalamat tayo sa ating mga kasamahan sa Kamara sa agarang pagpasa ng panukalang ito. Kapag naging batas ito, siguradong Winner Tayo Lahat, kasama na ang ating mga kababayan na sa kasalukuyan ay nasa dulo ng ating lipunan,” he said.

Under HB 8497, at least one adult beneficiary per family can join and complete either non-formal education through the ALS track of the Department of Education; or entrepreneurship track of the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Social Welfare and Development or employment track of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or their accredited private sector and civil society organizations.