Legarda secures bicameral approval of measure strengthening free college law

The bicameral conference committee, composed of conferees from the Senate and the House of Representatives, has adopted and signed today the reconciled version of Senate Bill No. 1894, principally sponsored and authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, and House Bill No. 8476 of the House of Representatives, enhancing the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931) to ensure that the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) reaches the poorest and most vulnerable Filipino learners.

Legarda steered the deliberations and […]

Legarda leads diagnosis of Antique-Aklan power and connectivity gaps; secures commitments for coordinated public-private solutions

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda led a substantive diagnosis of the power and connectivity challenges affecting Antique and Aklan and secured commitments for coordinated public-private solutions, emphasizing that reliable electricity and accessible internet are essential to inclusive local development, tourism, education, livelihood, public services, and investment.

During a multi-sector briefing at the Senate on May 28, 2026, Legarda carefully led national agencies, power stakeholders, electric cooperatives, telecommunications providers, and local governments in identifying the root causes of recurring service issues […]

Legarda joins Manila school visit, emphasizes ARAL Program’s role in helping struggling learners

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education and Co-Chairperson of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), joined the site visit to Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Elementary School and President Corazon C. Aquino High School in Baseco, Manila on May 26, 2026 to observe how the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program is being implemented in classrooms.

“As Chair of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, I want to see firsthand […]

Legarda confronts literacy crisis in first EDCOM II briefing as Basic Education Chair

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education and Co-Chairperson of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), faced head-on the urgent challenges in Philippine education during her first EDCOM II briefing on May 25, 2026.

Citing findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), Legarda emphasized that a significant number of students are falling behind in foundational skills.

“By Grade 3, many of our learners are still unable to read. At every […]

Legarda leads Senate Basic Education Committee, pushes reforms for teachers and learners

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda has assumed the chairpersonship of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, pledging stronger reforms to uplift teachers, students, and schools nationwide.

“Sa pagtanggap ko ng tungkuling ito, pangunahing pananagutan ko ang makinig sa ating mga guro, mag-aaral, at mga paaralan upang ang mga repormang ating isusulong ay tunay na sumasalamin sa kanilang pangangailangan at pangarap,” Legarda said.

Legarda’s legislative record reflects her long-standing commitment to education. She was Co-author and Co-sponsor of the Universal Access to […]