SENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian welcomed the Philippines’ improved performance in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), saying the results show that education reforms and learning recovery initiatives are beginning to deliver meaningful gains.

Gatchalian urged Filipinos to take pride in the achievement, describing the latest PISA results as evidence that collective efforts to address the country’s learning crisis are beginning to bear fruit.

“Let us take pride in this achievement. It is truly encouraging to see that our collective efforts are bearing fruit,” Gatchalian said, adding that the improvements demonstrate that the country is moving in the right direction.

Despite the milestone, the Senate President stressed that sustained reforms remain essential to translate higher test scores into long-term improvements in student learning.

He called for continued support for learning recovery programs, particularly the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, which aims to help learners recover foundational skills affected by years of disrupted education.

Gatchalian also vowed to prioritize education reforms during deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget, with investments focused on strengthening the entire learning continuum—from early childhood development to teacher education.

He said consistent funding and long-term commitment are crucial to ensuring that future generations of Filipino students continue to achieve stronger learning outcomes in succeeding PISA assessments.