SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano has renewed his call to address what he described as a fragmented education system by reintroducing a bill creating the Third Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM III).

The EDCOM III Act, one of Cayetano’s priority bills for the 20th Congress, aims to unify the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) under a single coordinating body.

Designed as a parliamentary-style commission, EDCOM III will not diminish the independence of these agencies. Instead, it will enable their leaders to work closely with lawmakers, local governments, and education stakeholders to ensure better alignment—from policy formulation to implementation.

The Commission will be co-chaired by four lawmakers: the chairs of the Senate and House committees on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture, and on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education.

It will also include an Advisory Support Council with representatives from the academe, business sector, parents’ associations, local government units, and civil society groups.

Among EDCOM III’s priorities are addressing the learning crisis, lowering dropout rates, improving digital infrastructure, and tackling persistent challenges such as stunting and workforce mismatch. The bill also calls for the use of emerging tools like artificial intelligence to modernize education and make it more responsive to industry needs.

Complementary to Cabinet Cluster for Education

EDCOM III is envisioned to complement another key reform—the Education Cabinet Cluster—also proposed by Cayetano and already approved in principle by the President.

While the Cabinet Cluster brings together executive agencies involved in education and labor for better inter-agency coordination, EDCOM III focuses on long-term planning, policy development, and stronger Congressional oversight. Unlike temporary bodies created through Presidential orders, EDCOM III is designed to be a permanent institution.

Cayetano first filed the bill during the 19th Congress as co-chair of EDCOM II, which had cited the lack of coordination among DepEd, CHED, and TESDA as a major contributor to the country’s education woes.

He underscored the urgency of reform, saying:

“The urgency of this reform cannot be overstated. If we are to produce a globally competitive workforce and make education a true driver of national development, we need decisive, coordinated action.”