Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1139)
The main purpose of Presidential Decree No. 1139 is to create the position of Undersecretary of Education and Culture for Non-Formal Education, aiming to oversee and coordinate non-formal education programs in the Philippines.
Non-formal education refers to learning programs designed for sectors of the population who cannot avail of formal education facilities, providing alternative means for skills development, literacy improvement, and value reorientation.
The Department of Education and Culture is responsible for implementing non-formal education programs under this decree.
The position of Undersecretary of Education and Culture for Non-Formal Education was created.
The Undersecretary is primarily responsible for the overall non-formal education program of the Department of Education and Culture, including establishing linkages with government and non-government institutions involved in similar programs to ensure integrated implementation.
The Undersecretary must make an overall assessment of the existing non-formal education programs and submit a report with recommendations to the Secretary of Education and Culture.
Coordination is important to rationalize and integrate efforts of various agencies, ensuring efficient and effective non-formal education program implementation and progress comparable to formal education.
The decree took effect immediately upon its signing on May 13, 1977.
The decree was signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos and by Presidential Executive Assistant Jacobo C. Clave.
The power vested in the President of the Philippines by the Constitution enabled the issuance of this Presidential Decree.