SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said the government’s K-12 education program is a clear example of what happens when good ideas lose focus and fail to achieve their goals.

Cayetano noted that while K-12 started with the right vision, it lacked sufficient funding and proper implementation.

“Maganda ang intensiyon, maganda ang K-12. Pero ang problema, hindi pinondohan nang husto ng gobyerno,” he said.

He recalled opposing the K-12 program when it was first proposed, citing the government’s inability to fund it properly.

“I was saying we can’t afford it. But now, with the flood control scandal, we see that the money exists—ang problema, napupunta sa corruption,” he added.

Cayetano said the lack of government support has forced many schools to operate in shifts, which reduces the quality of learning.

“Sa highly urbanized cities, more than 2,000 schools operate in two shifts. K-12 ka nga, half day ka naman,” he said.

He emphasized that even well-intentioned education reforms can fail if leaders lose sight of their core purpose.

“Ang ganda ng objective, pero hindi makafocus. Walang masamang proposal sa education, pero kung hindi fully funded, hindi maaabot ang target,” Cayetano said.

The senator urged agencies to refocus on results, ensure proper funding, and align reforms with their original goals. He also stressed that fighting corruption must go beyond policy and start with personal values.

“Lahat naman ng pwedeng idagdag sa anti-corruption drive gagawin. Ang problema ay y’ung values. Kailangan maging core value natin ang integrity at honesty,” he said.