EDCOM II’s term extended; Legarda vows to address gaps, drive education reforms

Senator Loren Legarda welcomed the passage into law of the measure extending the term of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) for two more years.

As the author and principal sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1483, Legarda said the new law secures the Commission’s mandate to continue diagnosing systemic failures and advancing reforms in Philippine education, with greater urgency now placed on driving concrete solutions.

“As EDCOM II continues its work, we must be deliberate in strengthening our education system,” the four-term senator said. “We will close the gaps, reinforce our institutions, and deliver the changes our learners and educators truly deserve.”

Since its creation under Republic Act No. 11899 in 2022, EDCOM II has produced landmark reports that have revealed urgent realities in Philippine schools. Its most recent, Turning Point: A Decade of Necessary Reform (2026–2035), calls on the education sector to implement strategic, targeted actions. Among its findings: nearly half of Grade 3 learners cannot read at grade level, 88% of Grade 7 learners were not grade-ready in reading, and less than 1% of Grade 12 students reach proficient level.

The report also flagged weak foundational learning, chronic underinvestment, fragmented governance, and deep inequities between urban and rural schools. Curricula remain misaligned with high-growth industries including advanced manufacturing, tourism, and ICT, leaving graduates unprepared for labor market demands.

To address these challenges, EDCOM II has recommended reforms in early literacy and numeracy, stronger teacher support systems, targeted investments in last-mile schools, and streamlined governance to ensure reforms outlast political cycles.

Legarda, who co-chairs EDCOM II as head of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, said the findings demand immediate action. “The evidence tells us exactly where the system is failing,” she said. “We will make sure every reform we advance is evidence-based, targeted, and built to last.”

Legarda has authored several bills aligned with EDCOM II’s recommendations, including SBN-1412 or the Last Mile Schools Act; SBN-1894, which amends the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act to strengthen the efficiency, equity, and accountability of the Tertiary Education Subsidy Program; SBN-1427 or the Higher Education Development and Innovation Act; and SBN-1413 or the TESDA Modernization Act, among others. (30)