The TINGOG party-list on Thursday welcomed President Marcos’ directive for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to ensure the immediate and effective implementation of the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) Act, also known as Republic Act 12124.
The law, enacted in March, institutionalized broader pathways to tertiary education for Filipinos from all walks of life.
The ETEEAP Act was principally authored and championed in Congress by TINGOG party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Avorque Acidre who led its deliberations and passage to enshrine lifelong learning as a central pillar of Philippine education policy.
From committee hearings to plenary debates, TINGOG pushed the measure to ensure that prior learning, work experience, and non-traditional education are formally recognized, particularly for working Filipinos, overseas Filipino workers, adult learners, and those who were unable to complete college through conventional means.
Marcos has emphasized the importance of lifelong learning and expanding access to higher education opportunities beyond the traditional classroom.
His directive, issued during the presentation of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the ETEEAP Act, underscored the need for CHED and higher education institutions to prioritize the law’s rollout so that it delivers meaningful and timely benefits for target beneficiaries.
The ETEEAP Act institutionalizes education alternatives that recognizes formal, non-formal, and informal learning, including relevant work experience, as part of academic equivalency for obtaining a college degree.
By shifting toward a competency-based and outcomes-focused approach, the law opens doors for learners whose education journeys were shaped by work, family responsibilities, or economic realities.
“We fully support the President’s directive to CHED to implement the ETEEAP Act. This law was crafted to make higher education truly accessible, especially for Filipinos whose skills, experience, and dedication have long gone unrecognized by traditional systems. Education must be inclusive, responsive, and grounded in real life,” Romualdez said.
For his part, Acidre said the ETEEAP Act “reflects our commitment to education that adapts to the realities of our people. Learning does not stop at the classroom door.”
“We echo the President’s call for urgent and effective implementation and commit to working closely with CHED and our education partners to ensure that this law empowers learners and strengthens our workforce,” he added.
TINGOG reiterates its strong support for the full implementation of the ETEEAP Act and reaffirms its commitment to advancing inclusive, flexible, and lifelong learning opportunities that enable every Filipino to reach their full potential.
