SENATOR Risa Hontiveros is pushing for a measure seeking to extend the term of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) and to establish an Education Cabinet Cluster to ensure the effective implementation of the commission’s education reform recommendations.

Hontiveros’ Senate Bill No. 1418, or the proposed EDCOM II Continuity and Reform Implementation Act, seeks to amend Republic Act No. 11899, which created EDCOM II in 2022. The measure proposes to extend its mandate from three years to six years to give the commission ample time to complete its comprehensive review and reform agenda for the country’s education system.

Hontiveros emphasized that while EDCOM II has made notable progress through consultations, data gathering, and interim policy reports, the magnitude of challenges confronting the education sector — from learning poverty and resource inequities to the lingering impact of the Covid-19 pandemic — requires more time and institutional support.

“This extension is a commitment to continuity and comprehensive reform,” Hontiveros said. “Our learners, especially those in marginalized and underserved communities, deserve a future shaped by evidence-based, inclusive, and future-ready education policies.”

Under the proposed bill, EDCOM II will continue its work for an additional three years to finalize nationwide consultations, research initiatives, and policy proposals.

It will also have sufficient time to oversee the legislative and institutional reforms necessary to address systemic issues in the education sector.

To strengthen coordination and sustain reform implementation, the bill also mandates the creation of a President’s Education Cabinet Cluster — a high-level inter-agency body tasked with aligning policies, budgets, and programs across education and workforce development sectors.

The Education Cabinet Cluster will be chaired by a Cabinet member or Presidential Adviser with the rank of Secretary, as designated by the President. It will include the heads of key education agencies such as the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and other relevant institutions.

The bill also provides for a transition plan for the turnover of EDCOM II’s final report, research outputs, and policy recommendations to the Education Cabinet Cluster before the commission’s dissolution, ensuring continuity and a smooth handover of ongoing reform initiatives.

Funding for the extended operations of EDCOM II will come from the appropriations of both houses of Congress, while future implementation efforts will be incorporated into the General Appropriations Act.