LEADING universities, civil society organizations, think tanks, international development partners, and private sector groups have pledged strong support for the National Education and Workforce Development Plan or NatPlan 2026–2035 of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).

The report lays out a comprehensive, evidence-based roadmap to address what EDCOM 2 described as a nationwide proficiency collapse and to reverse the decades-long decline in the quality of Philippine education.

Stakeholders lauded the plan for offering a unified, long-term strategy to confront the country’s learning crisis and align education reforms with workforce development.

UNICEF Philippines described the report as a “critical guide” for urgently needed reforms.

UNICEF Philippines Representative Kyungsun Kim said the agency was “proud to have supported EDCOM 2 over the past three years in uncovering bottlenecks and identifying opportunities to end the learning crisis,” adding that UNICEF will continue to support the government in ensuring reforms are inclusive and effective.

Child-focused organizations also urged swift and meaningful implementation.

ChildFund Philippines endorsed the findings as a “historic roadmap for reform,” while warning that policy must translate into concrete outcomes.

Business and accreditation groups likewise backed the call for deep, systemic reforms.

Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) said the report affirms that “the time for incremental change and knee-jerk policy reactions has passed,” urging decisive action and sustained political will, particularly in strengthening accountability in education governance.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities, which represents more than 800 institutions nationwide, expressed readiness to work closely with the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education

PAASCU said EDCOM 2’s recommendations on quality assurance are “central to sustaining educational improvement and public trust in educational outcomes.”

Faith-based education networks also pledged their support. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education, together with the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, described the report’s release as “not an end but a beginning,” emphasizing that implementation is a moral and civic responsibility that calls for “conscience, courage, and coherence in action.”

Major university networks echoed these commitments. The Society of Jesus Educational Apostolate commended the “comprehensiveness and depth” of EDCOM 2’s analysis and reaffirmed its collective commitment to improving the quality, access, relevance, adaptiveness, and impact of Philippine education.

De La Salle Philippines similarly welcomed the roadmap, saying it sets the stage for “a lasting legacy of excellence.”

DLSP highlighted its commitment to research and to localizing the Sustainable Development Goals to address systemic challenges in education. Its network includes De La Salle University, De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, De La Salle University–Dasmariñas, University of St. La Salle, and several other La Salle schools across the country.