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 Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931), which granted free tuition in state universities and colleges, and Author and Co-sponsor of the Enhanced Basic Education Act (RA 10533), which institutionalized the K-12 program.

She continues to serve as Co-chairperson of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), which has identified urgent gaps in classrooms, teacher welfare, and student learning recovery. Through her role in EDCOM II, reforms have been advanced to strengthen governance, improve coordination among agencies, and ensure that education policies respond to the realities faced by Filipino learners.

Among the education measures she has advanced are Senate Bill No. 1894, which expands the Tertiary Education Subsidy to reach the most disadvantaged students; Senate Bill No. 2101, which establishes the National Coordinating Council for Education to unify agency efforts; and Senate Bill No. 1981, or the Basic Education Voucher Program Act, which broadens assistance for students in basic education. These initiatives continue her push for accessible and quality education for all.

Legarda also acknowledged the call of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) for broad consultations with teachers, students, and schools. ACT has urged the Committee to prioritize salary increases for teachers, bigger education budgets, more classrooms, additional teaching and non teaching personnel, and adequate learning materials. Legarda affirmed that these concerns will be part of the continuing dialogue and agenda of the Committee.

Her education advocacy reflects a holistic vision, ensuring that every Filipino child, from early childhood to higher education, has access to quality learning opportunities, while also supporting teachers with fair compensation, training, and resources. By bridging reforms in both basic and higher education, Legarda underscores that education is a continuum that must be strengthened at every stage.

“Naniniwala ako na ang mas matatag na sistema ng edukasyon ang pundasyon ng mas maunlad na kinabukasan para sa ating bansa. Kasama ang ating mga guro, magulang, at komunidad, sabay-sabay nating itatayo ang kinabukasang iyon,” Legarda concluded. (30)