Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday welcomed the signing into law of the measure extending the term of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) until 2027, as he continues to push for the creation of EDCOM III to ensure sustained education reforms.
Cayetano said the extension of EDCOM II would allow lawmakers and education leaders to continue pursuing deeper structural reforms in order to address recurring problems in the education sector.
“The people of EDCOM II have already proven themselves. Their work speaks for itself. If we follow it, we’ll get so far. This extension will help us push the reforms our education system needs,” the minority leader said.
Republic Act No. 12315, signed on March 4, 2026, amends Republic Act No. 11899 to extend the commission’s mandate until December 31, 2027.
EDCOM II’s original term was set to conclude in December 2025, but lawmakers recognized that more time is needed to advance reforms, conduct consultations, and oversee implementation of the national education agenda.
Cayetano, a former co- chairperson of EDCOM II and former Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher Education, said his experience in the commission gave him a clearer picture of the deep-rooted challenges confronting the country’s education sector.
“EDCOM really made me understand the problems in education and how to try to fix it,” Cayetano said.
The extension will allow the commission to continue its work in studying reforms in curriculum alignment, teacher training, school infrastructure, and learning resources.
It will also help update the national education roadmap by integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital systems, and green innovations to prepare Filipino learners for future jobs.
Cayetano stressed that improving the education system requires bold and decisive action from lawmakers and government agencies.
“We have to do something radical. The task of the 20th Congress is not only for change or to do something, but it is the radical change that is needed, the hard decisions. [Let’s] put our money where our mouth is,” he said.
Proposal for EDCOM III
The senator also pushed for sustained education reforms through Senate Bill No. 103, which seeks to establish the Third Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM III.
The proposed body aims to strengthen coordination among the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to align education policies with workforce and national development needs.
Designed as a parliamentary-style commission, EDCOM III would allow education leaders, lawmakers, and stakeholders to work closely in shaping long-term reforms while ensuring oversight in policy implementation.
Unlike time-bound commissions, the proposed EDCOM III is envisioned as a long-term body that can sustain reforms beyond the term of a single administration.
“It’s such an honor to be a part of this. I will try to do my best and serve well so that we don’t steal from this generation,” Cayetano said.###
