THE PHILIPPINE Business for Education welcomed the designation of the representatives of Congress to the Second Congressional Commission on Education.

PBEd stressed the importance of convening EDCOM II as it will enable legislators and other stakeholders to review and amend policies and legislation to address current gaps and improve the educational system in the country. It will also provide an avenue for other stakeholders to take part in the discussions on the learning crisis and come up with much-needed reforms.

“This is a milestone in our shared aspiration to enhance quality education in the Philippines. With the country’s learning poverty reaching a new high at 91 percent this year, no time should be wasted in convening EDCOM II,” PBEd’s Executive Director Justine Raagas said.

“With the future of millions of Filipinos at stake, we need a strong multi-sectoral coalition that will mobilize resources and convert it to transformative action that will ensure each individual is learning and thriving,” he added.

Earlier, the House of Representatives announced that Representatives Mark Go and Roman Romulo will serve as co-chairpersons for the House panel, while Representatives Pablo John “PJ” Garcia, Francisco “Kiko” Benitez and Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo were appointed as members of the commission.

The Senate delegated Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Francis Escudero as co-chairpersons and Senators Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Joel Villanueva and Pia Cayetano as members.

“We still have a long way to go but we are committed to work with Congress to make this endeavor a success,” Raagas said.