THE SECOND Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM II has started performing its mandate to develop a more holistic, harmonized and coordinated education ecosystem by reviewing the mandates of the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

This was after the Senate named eight personalities and two civil society organizations as the policy advisers of the commission in accordance with the provision of the law that created the EDCOM II.

The policy advisers include former Ateneo de Manila University President Fr. Bienvenido Niebres and former dean of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy in the University of the Philippines Ma. Cynthia Rose Bautista from the academe.

Also part of the team are Alfredo Ayala and Dr. Chito Salazar from the business sector; former TESDA Director General Irene Isaac and Private Education Assistance Committee executive director Doris Ferrer from the government education agencies.

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano were also named as policy advisers from the Local Government Units.

To complete the members of the advisory council, the Senate named Sinerhiya Foundation and E-Net Philippines from the civil society organization and development partners engaged in education.

From the legislation, the commission will be joined by Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Pia Cayetano and Joel Villanueva.