THE SECOND Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) has expressed full support for the establishment of the Education and Workforce Development Group (EWDG), created under Administrative Order No. 36 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

The newly formed inter-agency body seeks to address long-standing systemic challenges in the Philippine education sector, many of which were highlighted in EDCOM II’s comprehensive reports.

“The establishment of the EWDG is a critical step forward in resolving the multifaceted challenges confronting our education and workforce development landscape,” said EDCOM II Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee.

“Our reports underscored significant issues, including the fragmented implementation of education programs, misaligned teacher development efforts, and inconsistent education plans and policies. The President’s decisive action in creating the EWDG directly responds to these findings,” he added.

Under AO 36, the EWDG will serve as the central coordinating body for all education and workforce development concerns in the country. It will craft a 10-year National Education and Workforce Development Plan to provide strategic direction for the sector and align Philippine education with global labor market demands.

The group’s mandate covers the entire education continuum—from early childhood to higher education and technical-vocational training. Its responsibilities include identifying priority programs, addressing learning recovery, improving learner progress tracking, and preparing the workforce for future economic requirements.

The EWDG will also streamline overlapping functions of existing inter-agency bodies.

EDCOM II earlier revealed that education agencies currently handle at least 68 inter-agency responsibilities, yet none are specifically tasked with education coordination and workforce development.

The group will be chaired by the President, with Education Secretary Sara Duterte as Co-Chairperson and Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma as Vice-Chairperson.

Members include key officials from the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Migrant Workers, National Economic and Development Authority, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

In June, EDCOM II Commissioners successfully pushed for concurrent Senate and House resolutions urging the creation of a dedicated Cabinet cluster on education—a recommendation now realized through the EWDG.

EDCOM II stressed that the group’s mandate to monitor and oversee all government education and workforce programs, along with its requirement to submit monthly performance reports to the President, is vital for ensuring accountability and reform.