“THERE is an urgency behind the work of EDCOM 2 (The Second Congressional Commission on Education),” this is what Representative Mark Go emphasized during the organizational meeting of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) Standing Committee on Higher Education & Teacher Education and Development, held today at the House of Representatives.
Go, co-chairperson of the Commission, facilitated the meeting, which was attended by fellow Chairpersons Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian and Rep. Roman Romulo, as well as Rep. Khalid Dimaporo and Rep. Kiko Benitez, Commissioners of EDCOM 2.
Go, in his statement, highlighted the need to factor in “the realities of the political situation that we have today: such as our population, budget, political leaders, and political expediency, which will definitely affect our pursuit for reform”.
He cited quality, equity and access, emphasis on systems, and public perception of secondary education as important aspects of EDCOM 2’s three-year assessment of the country’s education system.
“In order to address the problem, we need to know exactly what the problem is and its root causes,” Go said. “And by knowing the root cause, we can already solve 50% of the problem”.
Also present during the Standing Committee meeting were Advisory Council members Dr. Cynthia Rose Bautista, Vice President for Academic Affairs of the University of the Philippines and Dr. Chito Salazar, President of PHINMA Education.
Joining the Committee were stakeholders from the education industry, including Dr. Tirso Ronquillo, President of the Philippine Association of Universities and Colleges (PASUC), Dr. Elyxzur Ramos of the University of Makati, Dr. Reynaldo Vea of Mapua University, Atty. Alexander Cabrera of Isla Lipana & Co./PwC, Dr. Dina Ocampo of the University of the Philippines College of Education, and Dr. Jennie Jocson of Philippine Normal University.
EDCOM 2 is the Congressional body created through RA11899, tasked to undertake a comprehensive national assessment and evaluation of the performance of the Philippine education sector. In the next three years, it will also recommend legislation that aims to address the education crisis in the country.
