The Iloilo Provincial Government through the Provincial Population Office (PPO) launched its “alaLAYI: Pag-ubay Legal sa Kabataan” program in partnership with Central Philippine University (CPU) College of Law at the Provincial Capitol Lobby on April 8.
A signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was graced by Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. along with Atty. Aila Rae Endonila, dean of the CPU College of Law; and Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr., Department of Education Iloilo Schools Division Superintendent as a sign of commitment for the undertaking of the said program.
The MOA signing was also witnessed by PPO chief Atty. Ruel Von Superio, CPU College of Law Assistant Dean Atty. Liza Lyn Lamason-Garcia, Commission on Population and Development VI Regional Director Harold Alfred Marshall, Integrated Bar of the Philippines Iloilo Chapter President Atty. Mehelinda Penetrante, and DepEd Iloilo School Governance and Operations Division chief Dr. Gilbert Solidum.
alaLAYI is a combination of “alalay,” meaning guide, and “layi,” meaning law.
The said program aims to provide guidance and legal education to school-based multipurpose teen centers and their secondary students supported by PPO.
Initial recipients of this program include teen centers from the municipalities of Alimodian, Leganes, Leon, New Lucena, Oton, Pavia, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, and Zarraga.
Under the said program, law student practitioners through the CPU Legal Aid Clinic and Clinical Education Program (CLEP) will be providing relevant lectures and seminars which include gender-based laws, sexuality education, and voter’s education to the teen center peer helpers, peer facilitators, and high school students.
Legal assistance will also be offered by the law students in the form of legal advice, referrals for legal representation, drafting and preparation of simple affidavits and legal documents.
In his message, Governor Defensor said the program supports the goal of the province of promoting transformative education in high schools.
Defensor thanked the CPU College of Law and the legal community for their participation to educate students about their legal rights, highlighting that the said program also strengthens Iloilo’s commitment of building democratic institutions.
