THE House of Representatives approved on second reading a measure extending the life of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) until the end of 2027.
House Bill 6429 amends Republic Act 11899 which created EDCOM II and mandated it to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Philippine education system across basic, higher, and technical-vocational instructions.
As sponsor of the measure under Committee Report 27, TINGOG party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said the extension reflects the responsibility of Congress to ensure that the education reforms already identified are not only designed, but fully carried out.
Acidre underscored that over the past two years, EDCOM II has undertaken the difficult task of listening, studying, and confronting long-standing issues in the education sector. He cited the experiences of teachers who feel overworked and unsupported, students struggling with basic learning competencies, and parents seeking better opportunities for their children.
He also pointed to fragmented policies, outdated systems, and persistent resource gaps as key challenges that continue to hinder progress across the education system.
Acidre emphasized that for reforms to succeed, they must be sustained by the right policies, the right structures, and steady investment, so that recommendations translate into actual improvements on the ground.
“This extension is not to prolong the work, but to protect the work,” Acidre said, stressing that it is meant to ensure that reforms already identified by EDCOM II can be carried forward with clarity and intention.
Meanwhile, Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, vice chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education and co-chairman of EDCOM II, said in his sponsorship speech that in the three years since its establishment, EDCOM II has delivered on its mandate with depth, rigor, and urgency.
Romulo noted that the EDCOM’s work has been shaped by extensive research, field assessments, and nationwide consultations involving learners, teachers, parents, government agencies, local government units, private sector partners, and policymakers.
The bill’s passage by the House followed the recent third reading approval of a counterpart measure in the Senate.
By extending the life of EDCOM II until 2027, the House affirms its commitment to ensure that education reforms are grounded in evidence, guided by consensus, and supported by the investments needed to make them real for Filipino learners, teachers, and communities.
