SENATOR Joel Villanueva on Wednesday thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for signing into law Republic Act No. 12313, or the Lifelong Learning Development Framework Act, calling it a major milestone in advancing the country’s workforce development and upskilling agenda.

“We thank the President for signing the Lifelong Learning Development Framework Act, or Republic Act No. 12313—a crucial step in realizing our long-time advocacy to foster a culture of continuous learning and upskilling, which is essential for improving every Filipino’s income and living standards,” Villanueva said.

The senator also expressed gratitude to his fellow EDCOM 2 Commissioners, who co-authored the measure he sponsored in the Senate.

Under the new law, learning cities and learning municipalities will be established to enable local government units to design and implement customized educational and training programs suited to their communities.

These initiatives aim to provide Filipinos with access to the skills and competencies required to thrive in an increasingly dynamic and technology-driven economy.

Villanueva noted that the law complements two earlier measures he also championed—Republic Act No. 12063, or the Enterprise-Based Education and Training Law, and Republic Act No. 12124, or the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program Act.

“The Lifelong Learning Development Framework Act completes our advocacy to establish a comprehensive framework for education and skills upgrading support for our workers,” Villanueva said.

He added that the passage of the law reflects the government’s commitment to making education a lifelong pursuit, ensuring that Filipino workers can continually adapt to the demands of a fast-changing labor market.