Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 374 _

Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

On June 18, 2025, the United Nations’ Children's Fund (UNICEF) cautioned the
Philippines of a “real and widespread learning crisis.” The esteemed international organization
cited that Filipino children are significantly trailing behind mathematics and reading. The UNICEF
Education Chief further explained that “90 percent of Filipino children in Grade 5 cannot read at
their expected level, while 83 percent continue to struggle with basic mathematics.'”

On the same day, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. opined that the Department of
Education's K-12 program, which was introduced in 2014, has failed to produce work-ready senior
high school students?

On the other hand, parents’ have voiced out concerns of having to pay an extra two (2) years
of tuition, school supplies and other educational costs, without experiencing any additional
benefits. It is, therefore, high time for the DepEd to abandon the K-12 program and seriously
restructure our country’s basic educational system.

The Philippines needs an educational system that is aligned not only with the country’s long-

term goals, but also the realities of the resources of the national goverment and Filipino families.

For example, most employers still prefer college graduates, and that the extra two (2)

* Cariaso, Bella, “UNICEF Official Flags Philippines for Major Learning Crisis.” Philstar.Com, Philstar.com,
18 June 2025

? Hufana, C & Halili, A “Marcos Says K to 12 Program Failed, up to Congress Whether to Scrap It”
BusinessWorld Online, 18 June 2025,


years is merely a waste of time and resources which could have been used to better afford a
college education.

Another issue that would require consideration in the design of a new basic educational
system would be the feasibility of proper implementation. In the present K-12 system,
well-funded private schools were better able to cope with the system’s demands, whereas the
public schools were more burdened with the lack of resources.

Finally, a new basic educational system must address the leaming gaps, specifically in
mathematics, science and reading, that have put our Filipino youth at a disadvantage. Our
educational system is nothing but an indicator of the future of our country. Ignoring the tell-tale
signs of failure is an error we cannot, as a nation, afford to make.

In view of the foregoing, I call on the swift passage of this bill. .



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 374

Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

AN ACT ABOLISHING AND REFORMING THE CURRENT K-12 BASIC
EDUCATION SYSTEM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ADDRESS THE
EDUCATIONAL DEFICITS OF FILIPINO CHILDREN, REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT

NO. 10533 OR THE “ENHANCED BASIC EDUCATION ACT OF 2013”

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Republic Act No. 10533 or the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013” is

hereby repealed,

SEC. 2. The Secretary of Education shall immediately convene a Basic Education Reform
Working Group, headed by the Secretary of Education, with members from the Department of
Education (DepEd), Commission of Higher Education (CHED), Department of Budget
Management (DBM), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),

representatives from other pertinent national agencies and representatives from education-related


non-government organizations, to formulate an alternative basic educational system that would
address the following:
(a) Addressing the deficits and gaps in basic education, particularly in reading,
mathematics and science; and

(b) Ensuring the employability of Filipino graduates through early career guidance.

SEC. 3. There is hereby a created a Joint Committee for Basic Education Reform to oversee
the implementation of this Act, with the following membership:
(a) Five (5) members of the House of Representatives:
(b) Five (5) members of the Senate of the Philippines: and
(c) Chairpersons of the Committees on Education, Arts and Culture, and Finance of

both Houses.

SEC. 4. Within six (6) months of the convention of the Basic Education Reform Working
Group, the Secretary of Education shall report and present a proposal for an alternative basic

education system for the Philippines to the Joint Committee for Basic Education Reform.
SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. — Republic Act No. 10533, and all other laws, decrees, executive
orders and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are

hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,