In an innovative step towards bringing legal education to the high school level, the Iloilo provincial government has joined hands with the Central Philippine University (CPU) College of Law to roll out the 'alaLAYI: Pag-ubay Legal sa Kabataan' program.
Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. presided over the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement on April 8 at the lobby of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol, with CPU College of Law Dean Atty. Aila Rae Endonila and Department of Education (DepEd) Iloilo Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr. The activity coincided with the observance of Semana sang Iloilo.
The program seeks to integrate legal education into the guidance services of teen centers assisted by the Provincial Population Office (PPO). The province currently has 102 teen centers, of which five are enhanced Teen Center 2.0. A new model teen center is also being launched at Iloilo National High School.
Witnesses to the signing of the MOA were PPO Chief Atty. Ruel Von Superio, CPU Assistant Dean Atty. Liza Lyn Lamason-Garcia, Commission on Population and Development VI Regional Director Harold Alfred Marshall, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Iloilo Chapter President Atty. Mehelinda Penetrante, and DepEd School Governance and Operations Division Chief Dr. Gilbert Solidum.
“AlaLAYI is a portmanteau of the Hiligaynon words ‘alalay’ (to guide) and ‘layi’ (law)”, explained Atty. Superio. “This program empowers our youth with knowledge about their rights and basic legal principles”.
With CPU's Legal Aid Clinic and Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP), law student practitioners will provide lectures and seminars on gender-based laws, sexuality education, voter education, and other legal subjects important to young people. Sessions will be conducted together with peer helpers and facilitators in public high schools.
Aside from educational seminars, the program will also offer basic legal services like legal consultation, referrals, and drafting of uncomplicated documents like affidavits.
Teen centers in Alimodian, Leganes, Leon, New Lucena, Oton, Pavia, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, and Zarraga will be the scope of pilot implementation.
Governor Defensor explained that the program is consistent with the province's Bulig Eskwela sang Probinsya (BES Probins) agenda, where the focus is on transformative education. "We want our graduates to have a future after graduation, and that should start at the high school level", he averred.
He also expressed gratitude to CPU and the legal profession for helping advance the province's vision for equipping the youth for active democratic participation.
