Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education

DepEd O R D E R
No. , s. 2020

POLICY GUIDELINES FOR THE PROVISION OF LEARNING RESOURCES

IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BASIC EDUCATION
LEARNING CONTINUITY PLAN

To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau and Service Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division Superintendents
All Others Concerned

1. The Department of Education (DepEd) issues the enclosed Policy Guidelines for
the Provision of Learning Resources in the Implementation of the Basic Education
Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP).

2. The policy establishes the guidelines that will enable DepEd to provide learning
resources in the implementation of the BE-LCP. It also establishes the guidelines on the
release, utilization, and liquidation of support funds for the printing and delivery of self-
learning modules and other learning resources.

3. For more information, please contact the Bureau of Learning Resources,

Bonifacio Building, Department of Education Central Office, DepEd Complex, Meralco
Avenue, Pasig City, through email at [email protected] or at telephone number (02)
8687-2744.

4. Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order are directed.

LEONOR MAGTOLIS BRIONES

Secretary

Encl/s:
As stated
Reference/s:
DepEd Order (No. 21, s. 2019; No. 12, s. 2020)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:

CLASSES POLICY
CURRICULUM PROGRAMS
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION SECONDARY EDUCATION
LEARNERS SCHOOLS
OFFICIALS TEACHERS
JD, DO Provision of LRs in Implementation of BE-LCP
July 24, 2020

DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City 1600 8633-7208/8633-7228/8632-1361 8636-4876/8637-6209 www.deped.gov.ph
Enclosure to DepEd Order No. , s. 2020

POLICY GUIDELINES FOR THE PROVISION OF LEARNING RESOURCES IN THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BASIC EDUCATION LEARNING CONTINUITY PLAN

I. Rationale

The public health emergency brought about by COVID-19 calls for the Department of
Education (DepEd) to be innovative and resourceful in delivering quality, accessible, relevant,
and liberating education. In response to this emergency, DepEd developed the Basic
Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) to ensure that learning opportunities are
provided to our learners in a safe manner, through different learning delivery. In line with this,
the Department, through its Regional and Schools Division Offices undertake the urgent and
necessary development, production and provision of learning resources, in accordance with
its mandate.

The 1987 Constitution states in Article XIV, Sections 1 and 2, viz:

Section 1. The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality
education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such education
accessible to all.

Section 2. The State shall:

(1) Establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated

system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society;
(2) Establish and maintain a system of free public education in the elementary
and high school levels.

Pursuant to the above-cited constitutional provisions, as well as Executive Order No.

292 or the Administrative Code of 1987, Republic Act No. (RA) 9155 or the Governance of
Basic Education Act of 2001, and RA 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013,
DepEd is mandated to protect and promote the right of access to quality basic education.
Accordingly, it is legally tasked to provide a learner-centered, inclusive, responsive, relevant,
and contextualized K to 12 basic education.

In accordance with its legal mandate, DepEd has promulgated issuances on flexible
learning and materials, specifically, DepEd Order No. (DO) 21, s. 2019, or the Policy
Guidelines on the K to 12 Basic Education Program. It sets forth Flexible Learning Options
(FLOs), which includes alternative delivery modes and its corresponding learning resources
that are responsive to the need, context, circumstances, and diversity of learners.

These policy guidelines aim to set the standards and specifications in the provision of
learning resources in the implementation of the BE-LCP. The learning resources serve as
learning toolkits for learners where procedures, instructions, and other details are provided to
aid the learning process, with the supervision of responsible adults along with the continuous
monitoring and guidance of teachers.

II. Scope

The standards and mechanisms included in this policy shall guide officials and
personnel at the Central, Regional, and Schools Division Offices in the provision of learning
resources, particularly for FLOs, in the implementation of the BE-LCP. These policy guidelines
shall take effect starting Fiscal Year (FY) 2020.

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III. Definition of Terms

3.1 Ready to Print materials - materials ready for mass printing.

3.2 Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) - competencies necessary to
develop a learner’s practical and lifelong skills for learning amidst a crisis (e.g.
pandemic, epidemic, etc.) and to eventually attain a successful life.
3.3 Flexible Learning Options (FLOs) - menu of learning interventions and pathways
that are responsive to the needs, context, circumstances, and diversity of learners.
3.4 Alternative Delivery Modes (ADMs) - instructional learning modalities that do not
strictly follow the typical set-up for regular classroom instruction, but follow the K to
12 curriculum in content.
3.5 Alternative Delivery Modules or Self-Learning Modules (SLMs) - self-
contained, self-instructional, self-paced, and interactive learning resources for
public schools intended for learning a specific topic or lesson where the learner
interacts actively with the instructional material rather than reading the material
passively. SLMs become an ideal learning resource and therefore a priority in
remote or distance learning where a teacher is unable to provide the constant
instructional supervision and guidance in a classroom setting. SLMs have been
used by DepEd for its ADMs during disasters or in situations where learners have
difficulty for daily school attendance. COVID-19 has compelled the use of SLMs on
a large scale.
3.6 Learning Resources (LRs) - any text-based (print or non-print) or non-text based
material (devices, tools, equipment, manipulative toys) aligned with the K to 12
curriculum and as primary bases or supplements to teaching and learning
processes.

IV. Policy Statement

This policy establishes guidelines that will enable DepEd to provide learning resources
in the implementation of the BE-LCP for School Year (SY) 2020-2021. It also establishes the
guidelines on the release, utilization, and liquidation of support funds for the printing and
delivery of self-learning modules and other learning resources.

V. Policy Implementation

All matters pertaining to results of needs analysis, content review and evaluation,
technical standard setting, and allocation, release, and utilization of funds shall be coordinated
with the Office of the Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction (OUCI).

A. Guidelines in the Printing and Delivery of Self-Learning Modules (SLMs)

5.1 The ready-to-print digital copies of the SLMs developed by the assigned regions,
and approved and considered final, particularly in terms of content and alignment
with the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) by the Bureau of
Learning Delivery (BLD), can be downloaded from the Microsoft Teams folder
“Ready-to-Print SLMs” created by the Information and Communications
Technology Service (ICTS) for the Regional Directors, Curriculum and Learning
Management Division (CLMD) Chiefs, and Regional Education Program
Supervisors in-charge of the Learning Resource Management Section (LRMS).

5.2 Unauthorized printing, uploading, and conducting activities involving sharing of

digital files other than the intended purpose are strictly prohibited and shall be
grounds for imposition of administrative and other sanctions.

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 5.3 For efficient use of funds and to facilitate timely delivery of the printed SLMs for the
first quarter, the Schools Division Offices (SDOs) primarily, or schools as
authorized jointly by Regional Offices (ROs) and SDOs, shall set the print run
based on the quantity needed and deliver these immediately to schools. The SDOs
shall continue to set the requirements for the subsequent quarters, with continuing
consultation with the Central Office on the appropriate printing arrangements.

5.4 In view of the extreme urgency to provide the minimum SY 2020-2021 Quarter 1
SLMs to learners on or before the opening of classes on August 24, 2020, the
SDOs are given the flexibility to determine the standard technical specifications in
the procurement or in-house/by administration production of printing and delivery
of SLMs. In the succeeding quarters of the school year, an addendum to these
guidelines may be issued to ensure uniform technical specifications.

B. Procedures on the Allocation, Release and Utilization of Funds

6.1 OUCI shall submit the request to allocate and download funds for DepEd ROs to
the Secretary, through the Office of the Undersecretary for Finance (OUF),
following the allocation formula as approved by the Learning Resources and
Platforms Committee (LRPC).

6.2 The Finance Service (FS)-Budget Division in the DepEd Central Office shall
process and issue the Sub-Allotment Release Orders (Sub-AROs) necessary to
effect downloading of funds to the ROs.

6.3 The Regional Director, through its planning, finance, and program teams, shall
be responsible in determining the budget allocation per SDO. In determining the
most equitable distribution of the fund among the SDOs, the ROs may consider
the following parameters, among others:

a. Latest enrollment data of each division;

b. Actual Special Education Fund (SEF) contributions attributable to the BE-
LCP learning resources component; and,
c. Actual contributions from external partners attributable to the BE-LCP
learning resources component.

6.4 After receipt of the Sub-AROs from the ROs, the SDOs shall submit a Special
Budget Request (SBR) to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)-
ROs for the issuance of Notices of Cash Allocation (NCAs) to cover the cash
requirements of the Sub-AROs they received.

6.5 The allocation and utilization of funds by all DepEd Implementing Units shall be
in accordance with the priorities set by the ROs/SDOs in line with its
contextualized BE-LCP.

6.6 Expenses related to the conduct of activities, including but not limited to
procurement, or in-house/by administration, and/or partnership with Local
Government Units (LGUs) and other eligible entities, for the printing and delivery
of SLMs and other learning resources such as locally-developed SLMs, manuals,
worksheets, and activity sheets, and other expenses to cover supplies for the
development of video and radio scripts/lessons, conversion of materials into
accessible format, and development of interactive materials, may be charged
against this fund. Other expenses related to the implementation of the different
learning modalities may also be charged against this fund. The priority, however,
shall be provided for the printing and delivery of the SLMs. As stated earlier,

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 SLMs become an ideal learning resource and therefore a priority in remote or
distance learning where a teacher is unable to provide the constant instructional
supervision and guidance in a classroom setting. SLMs have been used by
DepEd for its ADMs during disasters or in situations where learners have difficulty
for daily school attendance. COVID-19 has compelled the use of SLMs on a large
scale. Considering the uneven access to technology among learners and the
revealed greater preference for modular learning from the learner enrollment and
survey forms responses, SLMs will be the backbone distance learning
mechanism to accompany textbooks, complemented by other distance learning
modalities such as online and educational television and radio.

6.7 The use of the funds shall be subject to the existing government budgeting,
procurement, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations.

6.8 Purchase of Capital Outlay items (e.g. equipment, gadgets, software, or any item
costing PhP15,000.00 and above per unit) is not allowed.

6.9 The grant of cash advance shall be subject to the rules and regulations on the
granting, utilization, and liquidation of cash advances as provided for under
Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 97-002 dated February 10, 1997, as
amended by COA Circular No. 2006-005 dated July 13, 2006.

6.10 In case the downloaded fund is not sufficient to address the actual needs for the
purpose, the SDOs may provide additional fund support from their regular
General Administration and Support Services (GASS) – Maintenance and Other
Operating Expenses (MOOE) allotment.

6.11 Schools may also use their regular MOOE allocations for the printing and delivery
of alternative delivery module in accordance with DO 15, s. 2020 (Supplementary
Guidelines on Managing Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses Allocation
for Schools to Support the Implementation of Basic Education Learning
Continuity Plan in time of COVID-19 Pandemic) and subject to pertinent
procurement, accounting, and auditing rules and regulation.

6.12 The SDOs shall determine the most efficient, effective, and economical mode of
printing and delivery of learning resources subject to compliance to RA 9184, or
the Government Procurement Reform Act, and its Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR). The SDOs may:

a. Procure for printing and/or delivery;

b. Conduct in-house or by-administration printing and/or delivery, subject to
applicable laws; and,
c. Enter partnership agreement with Local Government Units (LGUs) and
other eligible entities.

C. Procedures on Procurement, Planning and Preparations of Learning Resources

6.13 Procurement of learning resources under these guidelines shall be in accordance

with applicable provisions of RA 9184 and its IRR as well as the internal rules
and processes of DepEd.

6.14 The ROs and SDOs shall ensure compliance with the relevant provisions of DO
038 s. 2019 (Amendments to DepEd Order Nos. 67, s. 2016 and 006, s. 2019 -
Revised Signing Authorities for Financial Matters) on signing authorities and
other pertinent procedural requisites.

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 6.15 The SDOs may resort to the appropriate modes of procurement in accordance
with the provisions of RA 9184 and its IRR, including an agency-to-agency
arrangement pursuant to Section 53.5 of the IRR of RA 9184, such as with any
of the Recognized Government Printers (i.e. National Printing Office, APO
Production Unit. Inc. and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas), subject to the
applicable conditions.

VI. Funding

The fund shall be sourced from the additional “Flexible Learning Options” budget item
released by DBM. The purpose of the downloading of funds to the implementing units is “to
cover funding requirements for the implementation of the Basic Education Learning Continuity
Plan, Provision of Learning Resources”.

VII. Monitoring and Evaluation

BLR shall continuously gather feedback on the implementation of these policy

guidelines from: ROs, through the CLMD; SDOs, through the Curriculum Implementation
Division (CID); and down to the level of school. SDOs shall submit to their respective ROs a
Statement of Expenditure (SOE) within two (2) months from the receipt of funds. The SOE
shall be duly certified by the Division Accountant and approved by the Schools Division
Superintendent.

ROs shall consolidate the SOEs submitted by their SDOs and submit a consolidated
report to BLR, copy furnished the Education Programs Delivery Unit (EPDU) of the DepEd
Central Office. A template of the SOE is enclosed as Annex “1”. OUCI, in coordination with
OUF, shall conduct a periodic review of this policy to further enhance its provisions.

IX. Effectivity

This Order shall take effect immediately upon publication in the DepEd website.

VIII. References

DO 21 s. 2019 - Policy Guidelines on the K to 12 Basic Education Program

DO 012 s. 2020 - Adoption of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-
LCP) for School Year 2020-2021 in light of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Alternative Delivery Mode Learning Resource Standards

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