Around 375 regional and division principals and school heads of public elementary schools implementing the Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) throughout the 17 regions attended the annual conference held at Manuel Resort, Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte on January 8-12, 2019 hosted by DepEd RO IX. 
The conference served as an avenue wherein discussion on inclusive education that  focused on the needs of the diverse Filipino learners specifically for Muslim learners were conferred by sharing best practices across the region. 
The said event was in coordination with the Bureau of Learning Delivery (BLD) through the Student Inclusion Division (SID) of the DepED Central Office. 
Moreover, the conference provided a platform for the school administrators to gather inputs on the vital issues in the implementation of the program such as data management, inclusive learning environment for Muslim learners, instructional supervision, culturally responsive leadership, interfaith dialogue and presented valuable inputs from the presentation of DepEd-conducted researches on the implementation of ALIVE and support to private Madaris. 
Dr. Jose Tuguinayo, Jr., Chief of the Student Inclusion Division of DepEd Central Office mentioned the importance of the implementation of ALIVE-MEP and how this program helped the Filipino Muslim learners. 
Dr. Isabelita M. Borres, RO-IX director, further mentioned the struggle of the program for nationwide adaptation. She recalled that the first national conference of madrasah education was held in Zamboanga City and finally after 20 years it was again conducted at Zamboanga del Norte.  
“This is a great avenue for the administrators to sit down together and lay the foundation of our children, particularly in our ALIVE classes and our private madaris schools,” Borres stated during the opening ceremony.