Legarda conferred Doctor of Education degree, honors teachers and pushes education reform

Senator Loren Legarda was conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Education, Major in Educational Management, Honoris Causa, by Nueva Vizcaya State University on October 3, 2025, in recognition of her decades-long commitment to education reform and national transformation.

This marks the third honorary doctorate conferred upon Legarda by leading state universities. In 2018, the University of the Philippines awarded her the Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, in recognition of her service as a lawmaker, journalist, and advocate for social justice, human rights, peace, cultural diversity, environmental protection, education, and inclusive development. In 2025, the University of Antique also conferred its first-ever Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa, upon Legarda, honoring her legacy as a proud daughter of Antique, her transformative support for the university, and in recognition of her invaluable contributions to the nation and inclusive public service to the Filipino people.

“To be conferred this degree is to be entrusted with a responsibility larger than oneself,” Legarda said in her acceptance speech. “It affirms the truth that education is the most powerful tool we possess to dismantle inequality, empower communities, and shape a nation that is truly free and just.”

Legarda, a four-term Senator and Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, emphasized that education has always been central to her legislative work. “Every measure I have authored or sponsored forms part of a larger design to secure the continuum of the Filipino learner’s journey, from early childhood to higher education, and to the unending pursuit of knowledge.”

She cited landmark laws such as RA 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act which she both authored and co-sponsored, RA 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education which she co-authored and co-sponsored, and RA 9512 or the National Environmental Awareness and Education Act which she authored. She also highlighted RA 10908 or the Integrated History Act, which affirms the plural identity of the Filipino nation.

Recent reforms under the Second Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM 2, which Legarda now sits as co-chairperson, include RA 12199 or the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act, RA 12080 or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act and RA 12028 or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act, which address the country’s learning crisis and promote safe, nurturing school environments.

Legarda also emphasized the importance of bridging education and employment through, RA 12063 or the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act which she co-sponsored, and supporting adult learners through RA 12124 or the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) Act which she also co-sponsored. “This law provides flexible pathways for our hardworking kababayans to earn their college degrees,” she said.

In honor of Filipino teachers, Legarda co-authored and co-sponsored, RA 11997 or the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, which raises the teaching allowance to ₱10,000 beginning 2025, and authored and co-sponsored, RA 12288 or the Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act, which removes outdated promotion barriers. “Para sa inyo ito, Ma’am at Sir, at sa lahat ng dakilang guro sa bansa,” she said.

Legarda also reaffirmed her commitment to funding and accountability. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance in 2017, she allocated ₱8 billion to begin funding free higher education even before it was signed into law.

Today, she continues to push for the correction of ₱12.3 billion in deficiencies owed to state universities and colleges. “Beginning with the 2026 General Appropriations Act, this shortfall will no longer be allowed to stand.”

“This degree is not mine alone,” Legarda concluded. “It honors the teachers who give more than they have, the parents who sacrifice, and the students who persevere despite hardship. When we invest in learning, we invest in the power of our nation to transform itself.” (30)

Legarda, ginawaran ng Doctor of Education; kinilala ang mga guro at isinulong ang reporma sa edukasyon

Ginawaran si Senador Loren Legarda ng karangalang Doctor of Education, Major in Educational Management, Honoris Causa ng Nueva Vizcaya State University nitong Oktubre 3, 2025, bilang pagkilala sa kanyang dekadang pagsusulong ng reporma sa edukasyon at pambansang pagbabago.

Ito na ang ikatlong honorary doctorate na iginawad kay Legarda ng mga pangunahing pampublikong unibersidad. Noong 2018, iginawad sa kanya ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ang Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, bilang pagkilala sa kanyang serbisyo bilang mambabatas, mamamahayag, at tagapagtaguyod ng katarungang panlipunan. Noong Enero 2025, iginawad naman ng University of Antique ang kauna-unahang Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa, bilang pagkilala sa kanyang makabuluhang suporta sa unibersidad, at sa kanyang mahalagang ambag sa bayan at inklusibong paglilingkod sa sambayanang Pilipino.

“Ang pagkakaloob ng ganitong karangalan ay isang pagtitiwala na higit pa sa sarili,” pahayag ni Legarda. “Pinagtitibay nito ang katotohanang ang edukasyon ang pinakamakapangyarihang kasangkapan upang wakasan ang hindi pagkakapantay-pantay, bigyang-lakas ang mga pamayanan, at hubugin ang isang bansang tunay na malaya at makatarungan.”

Bilang four-term na Senador at Tagapangulo ng Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, binigyang-diin ni Legarda na sentral ang edukasyon sa kanyang mga panukalang batas. “Bawat batas na aking isinulong ay bahagi ng mas malawak na disenyo upang tiyakin ang tuluy-tuloy na paglalakbay ng bawat Pilipinong mag-aaral, mula pagkabata hanggang sa mataas na edukasyon, at sa pagpapaunlad ng kaalaman.”

Kabilang sa mga batas na kanyang isinulong ay ang RA 10533 o Enhanced Basic Education Act , RA 10931 o Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education, RA 9512 o National Environmental Awareness and Education Act at and RA 10908 o Integrated History Act.

Kabilang sa mga bagong reporma sa ilalim ng Second Congressional Commission on Education o EDCOM 2, kung saan siya ay kasalukuyang Co-Chairperson, ay ang RA 12199 o Early Childhood Care and Development System Act, RA 12080 o Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, at RA 12028 o Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act—mga batas na tumutugon sa krisis sa pagkatuto at nagsusulong ng ligtas at mapag-arugang kapaligiran sa paaralan.

Binigyang-diin din ni Legarda ang kahalagahan ng pag-uugnay ng edukasyon at trabaho sa pamamagitan ng RA 12063 o Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act, at ang suporta sa mga adult learners sa pamamagitan ng RA 12124 o Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) Act.

“Ang batas na ito ay nagbibigay ng mas nababagay na landas para sa ating masisipag na kababayan upang makamit ang kanilang degree sa kolehiyo,” pahayag ni Legarda.

Bilang pagkilala sa mga guro, isinulong din ni Legarda ang RA 11997 o Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, na nagtataas ng teaching allowance sa ₱10,000 simula 2025, at RA 12288 o Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act, na nag-aalis ng mga luma at hadlang na patakaran sa promosyon. “Para sa inyo ito, Ma’am at Sir, at sa lahat ng dakilang guro sa bansa,” dagdag ni Legarda.

Muling pinagtibay ni Legarda ang kanyang paninindigan sa pondo at pananagutan. Bilang Tagapangulo ng Senate Committee on Finance noong 2017, naglaan siya ng ₱8 bilyon upang simulan ang pondo para sa libreng edukasyon sa kolehiyo kahit hindi pa ito pormal na naisabatas.

Sa kasalukuyan, patuloy niyang isinusulong ang pagtutuwid sa ₱12.3 bilyong kakulangan sa pondo para sa mga state universities and colleges. “Simula sa 2026 General Appropriations Act, hindi na papayagang manatili ang kakulangang ito,” ang pahayag ng Senadora.

“Ang karangalang ito ay hindi para sa akin lamang,” pagtatapos ni Legarda. “Ito ay pagkilala sa mga gurong nagbibigay ng higit pa sa kanilang makakaya, sa mga magulang na nagsasakripisyo, at sa mga estudyanteng patuloy na nagsusumikap sa kabila ng hirap. Kapag tayo’y namumuhunan sa pagkatuto, tayo’y namumuhunan sa kakayahan ng ating bayan na baguhin ang sarili nito.” (30)