At the age of 78, Miguel Lajos is graduating with a degree in AB Political Science from the University of the Visayas‐Dalaguete.

“It is never too late,” he tells people.

Miguel Lajos is not alone in his aspiration to continue schooling and earn a degree but, like him, too many Filipinos are faced with challenges such as poverty that impede on their education.

The Abot Alam Bill seeks to effectively address the needs of the fast growing numbers of Filipino youth aged 7 to 24 who are not attending school.

This measure calls for the creation of a comprehensive national framework designed to achieve the government’s aim to provide education for each and every Filipino.

Targeting the out‐of‐school (OSY), including those who are at risk of dropping out and those who have never had any formal schooling, the Abot Alam program has the following directives:

1) Data banking to enable the government to know the total percentage of OSY in the country and where these OSY are through the Barangay Abot Alam Targeting System;

2) A program mapping system to ensure that the initiatives and resources of all government agencies, non‐government organizations and institutions, volunteer groups, and all other sectors mandated to solving the challenges of OSY in the country are cohesive and efficient;

3) A focus on reintegration and equal opportunity through the program matching system so that all OSY are given equal access to programs and services of partner agencies and institutions.

At the heart of this policy is every Filipino’s right to quality education and we are hopeful that this policy moves us forward to an era where all our countrymen are empowered by education.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

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