By Mariela Angella Oladive
The Iloilo provincial government has partnered with Central Philippine University (CPU) College of Law to introduce legal education to high school students through the “alaLAYI: Pag-ubay Legal sa Kabataan” program.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. formalized the initiative by signing a memorandum of agreement with CPU College of Law Dean Atty. Aila Rae Endonila and Department of Education (DepEd) Iloilo Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr. on April 8 at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol lobby.
The launch was part of the ongoing Semana sang Iloilo celebration.
The program aims to enhance guidance services by integrating legal education into teen centers supported by the Provincial Population Office (PPO).
The province currently operates 102 teen centers, five of which have been upgraded to Teen Center 2.0, with a modern flagship facility set to open at Iloilo National High School.
Among the MOA signing witnesses 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 Iloilo School Governance and Operations Division Chief Dr. Gilbert Solidum.
“AlaLAYI is a portmanteau of the local words alalay (to guide) and layi (law),” Atty. Superio said.
He explained that the program focuses on teaching students about their legal rights and jurisprudence to better guide them as young citizens.
Under the program, law student practitioners from CPU’s Legal Aid Clinic and Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP) will hold lectures and seminars on topics including gender-based laws, sexuality education, and voter education.
Sessions will be conducted with peer helpers, peer facilitators, and high school students in public schools.
The program will also offer basic legal services such as legal advice, referrals, and preparation of simple documents like affidavits.
Initial implementation will cover teen centers in Alimodian, Leganes, Leon, New Lucena, Oton, Pavia, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, and Zarraga.
Defensor said alaLAYI supports the province’s push for transformative education under the Bulig Eskwela sang Probinsya (BES Probins) agenda.
“Our education system is now geared toward producing human resources aligned with the needs of government and the economy,” he said.
“We want our students to have opportunities after graduation, and we believe that must start at the secondary level,” he added.
Defensor said alaLAYI not only offers legal guidance but also builds the foundation for meaningful participation in democratic processes.
He thanked CPU and the local legal sector for supporting the initiative.
