SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano is pushing for the creation of a Third Commission on Education, or EDCOM 3, to address persistent problems in the country’s education system, primarily caused by poor coordination among key education agencies.

Cayetano, who chairs the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, filed Senate Bill No. 3006 to introduce a unified approach to education reform.

EDCOM 3 builds on the work of the previous Congressional Commission on Education, with one major change: this time, the heads of the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will serve as full commissioners, alongside three others.

The commission will be led by four co-chairpersons—the chairs of the Senate and House committees on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture, and on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education.

Beyond reviewing the current state of education, EDCOM 3 will also update and monitor the implementation of the national education agenda developed by EDCOM 2.

It will propose cross-sectoral policies and reforms, conduct additional evaluations as needed, and report its progress to Congress annually.

EDCOM 3’s key priorities include addressing stunting, high dropout rates, learning poverty, and gaps in digital infrastructure.

It will also explore the use of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to future-proof the education system and bridge the gap between student learning and workforce demands.

The bill also proposes the establishment of an Advisory Support Council to provide expert advice to EDCOM 3.

The council will include two experts each from the academe, business sector, parents’ associations, and other groups directly engaged in education.

“Through EDCOM 3, we aim to unify lawmakers, education experts, and key agencies to create a cohesive and clear roadmap for reform,” Cayetano said.