In a significant move to overhaul the Philippine education system, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) presented its Year 2 report, titled ‘Fixing the Foundations,’ to Speaker Martin Romualdez on January 27, 2025. The report, handed over by EDCOM 2 co-chairpersons Baguio Rep. Mark Go and Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, calls for urgent reforms to address deep-rooted issues within the education sector.
During a plenary session, Rep. Romulo highlighted the necessity of focusing on the foundational elements of education, such as early childhood education, nutrition within the first 1,000 days of life, and achieving literacy by the end of Grade 3. He stressed the importance of these foundational reforms, stating, ‘We must act to fix these foundations of our education system. It is imperative that as we face an avalanche of concerns, we sift through the list and prioritize those that are foundational for our students.’
The report, which is based on extensive research and consultations conducted throughout 2024, revealed alarming statistics. Only 25 percent of Filipino children receive the recommended energy intake during their first 1,000 days, and one in four children under five suffer from stunting. In basic education, many Grade 3 students are lagging one to two years behind in reading and mathematics, according to an upcoming UNICEF study. Additionally, textbook shortages persist, with only 35 out of 94 required titles delivered to public schools as of January 2025.
The report also highlighted the impact of natural disasters on education, noting that a school in the Cordillera Administrative Region lost nearly half of its school days in 2024 due to typhoons and suspensions. This underscores the need for disaster-resilient educational infrastructure.
EDCOM 2 Commissioner and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre emphasized the urgency of addressing these challenges, describing the report as a ‘road map’ to improve the country’s education system. He stated, ‘These challenges are not new to us. Many of us have seen them first in familiar communities, but now is a time to go beyond mere recognition.’
Rep. Romulo reaffirmed EDCOM 2’s commitment to presenting a comprehensive national education and workforce development plan to Congress by the end of 2025. This plan will include a detailed blueprint for long-term reforms, budgetary priorities, and policy recommendations. He concluded, ‘Together, let us turn this crisis into an opportunity — to rebuild and create an education system that befits the boundless potential of the Filipino people.’