Just this year, after the general community quarantine in the province of Davao Occidental ended, the Division of Davao Occidental succeeded the launching of its Lupad ALS sa Kahanginan, the division-wide Alternative Learning System (ALS) radio-based instruction (RBI) and advocacy program. This is established to address ALS learners’ needs in the new normal as stipulated in its Learning Continuity Plan (LCP).
 
LUPAD ALS (Learning to Uplift the Potential and Academic Development of ALS) Sa Kahanginan Program is aired at 105.5 Radyo Natin/DXSA Malita every Sunday, 12:00 to 2:00 PM. The program is sponsored by Engr. Lhen Gojar, Kadote Tampadong, owner and manager, with the most awaited Trivia sa Radyo Portion sponsored by Jonathan Araneta and Jocye Pequite as Aralang Panlipunan Researcher
 
Jhoniel S. Razonable, education program specialist and the Division RBI focal person, serves as the main anchor of the program on their unique, innovative works as Life Skills on Radio from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. She is ably assisted by Rhoden Villa, ALS mobile teacher as co-anchor.
 
To form part of the blended modality of the learning delivery, RBI serves as a supplementary modality. Here, the learners are guided with the self-learning modules (SLMs). Thus, their understanding of the lessons is enhanced by radio broadcasts.
 
With the strong belief that an alternative mode of lesson delivery is necessary to enhance learning through the SLMs, the RBI is considered by some schools in the SDO as viable delivery.
 
The Demoloc Valley National High School is one identified school to adopt RBI. With the financial support of 30,000.00 coming from Brgy. Captain Fatima B. Baliota and 100,000.00 from Hon Franklin P. Bautista, the payment for processing documents for regional NTC office approval and affiliation at 105.5 DXSA Radyo Natin Malita materialized the proposal.
 
Now, the school has successfully launched its school-based radio station and is smoothly operating as community radio station as well. Today, the Division of Davao Occidental is on its pursuit of institutionalizing RBI with the upskilling of teachers across disciplines.
 
But for more than a decade, ALS Eskwelahan sa Kahanginan has been invading the air every Saturday, 10:00 to 11:30 in the morning over Radyo Kamagi, a local radio station of the municipality. This has afforded the ALS learners the opportunity to attend classes even in the most hectic schedules in their family affairs and work demands.
 
Now, it’s high time for RBI to gleam across the waves of challenges and play its part in the lesson delivery, intermingling other workable learning deliveries in the new normal.
 
DepEd Region XI is now intensifying education amidst the pandemic. The office assures the realization of the LCP and that education must not stop even amidst pandemic.
 
By Jhoniel S. Razonable & Raymond S. Aquino