SENATE APPROVES ON 2ND READING BILL EXTENDING EDCOM 2’S TERM
/ 15 November 2025
THE SENATE has approved on second reading Senate Bill No. 148, an act extending the term of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).
The extension amends Republic Act No. 11899, granting the Commission an additional two years, until December 2027, to complete its mandate of diagnosing and implementing structural reforms across the Philippine education system.
Sponsored by Senator Loren Legarda, the measure was deemed essential to maintain the momentum achieved since EDCOM 2’s establishment in 2022.
Senator Legarda, Co-Chairperson of the Commission, emphasized that while the commission is on track to submit its final report, significant work remains. She stressed that the sustained implementation of EDCOM 2’s policy recommendations requires continued oversight.
“We are at a moment when progress is within reach. The work has direction, the coordination is in place, the momentum is real,” Legarda said. “The extension will provide the necessary time to complete remaining legislative measures and ensure the institutionalization of coherent and lasting reform.”
Co-sponsors highlighted the urgency of the education crisis identified by EDCOM 2, arguing that the extension is crucial to translate these diagnoses into meaningful action.
Senator Joel Villanueva warned that the learning crisis is not abstract, noting that one in four Filipino children under five is stunted, and many grade-four learners still struggle with reading comprehension and basic math—a warning light for the nation’s future.
Senator Pia Cayetano, a former Commissioner, echoed this concern, referencing the Year Two report, Fixing the Foundations, calling its findings “battle cries for a Philippines where no child is left behind.”
Legarda also highlighted EDCOM 2’s identification of persistent and systemic deficiencies, including a classroom backlog of 165,000 units and chronic textbook shortages.
The senators agreed that the extension ensures reforms covering teacher quality, early childhood education, and curriculum relevance will be fully implemented.
