BGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No.
2485
E-FILED C<Z 
F-Jan 24 2022 m
COj
8:55 a.m.
(In Substitution of Senate Joint Resolution No. 10)
Prepared by the Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture joint with the 
Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education with Senators Angara, 
Drilon, Gatchalian, Poe, Villanueva, and Marcos as authors thereof
AN ACT
CREATING A SECOND CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON EDUCATION TO 
ASSESS AND EVALUATE THE STATE OF PHILIPPINE EDUCATION AND 
RECOMMEND INNOVATIVE AND TARGETED REFORMS IN EDUCATION, 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "SecondCongressional
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Commission on Educatbn Act (EDCOM 2)
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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make education as a critical component of human capital development, socio-
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economic equality, inclusive growth, sustainable development, and fulfillment of
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human rights. Pursuant to Article XIV of the Constitution which mandates the State to
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protect and promote tine right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, take
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appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all, and establish, maintain,
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and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the
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needs of the people and society, and in consonance with the Sustainable Development
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Goals, the State hereby adopts the following policies:


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a. 
The State shall placeeducationatthecenterofitsdevelopmentpolicies,
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guided by a national vision on education, to be strategically fulfilled
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through a set of specific, targeted, measurable and time-bound solutions
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that is a product of a comprehensive assessment and evaluation,
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effective planning, and strategic investments in education;
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b. 
The State shall develop a more harmonized and coordinated education
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ecosystem that will lead to the achievement of Wie goal of developing
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the country's human capital as an essential factor to national
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development, through a review of the mandates of the three sub-sectors
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of education, namely the Department of Education (DepEd), the
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Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education
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and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); and
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c. 
The State recognizes the role of digital transformation in education, and
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shall give priority to the use of science, technology and innovation for
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the sector to evolve into an effective, efficient and disruptive force in
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society.
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Sec. 3. Objectives. - It is the objective of this Act to jointly create with the
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House of Representatives an EDCOM 2, to undertake a comprehensive national
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assessment and evaluation of the performance of the Philippine education sector for
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the purpose of recommending transformative, concrete and targeted reforms in the
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sector.
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The national assessment and evaluation shall include the following:
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1. review of the obsen/ance of the mandates of the laws that created the
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three education sub-sectors, namely the DepEd, the CHED and the
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TESDA;
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2. determination of factors that have contributed to the continuing failure
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in learner performance on identified subject areas to meet the desired
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international and local standards;


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3. recommendations comprising of specific, targeted and time-bound
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solutions to enable the education sub-sectors to improve performance
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vis-a-vis measurable indicators and deliver accessible, inclusive and
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quality education that is at par with world standards;
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4. identification of best practices of various national and international
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educational institutions that can be adopted across the entire education
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system;
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5. proposal for a monitoring and evaluation plan to ensure the timely
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achievement of set targets;
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6. determination of the role of local government units in the delivery of
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basic education services; and
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7. additional legislation to further the objectives of this Act.
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Sec. 4. Powers and Functions ofEDCOM 2. - EDCOM 2 shall have the following
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powers and functions:
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1. assess and evaluate the formal, non-formal, informal and alternative
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learning systems, including continuing systems ofeducation at all levels;
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2. produce a reportof its findings;
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3. formulate short-term and long-term policy and program
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recommendations that consist of specific, targeted, measurable and
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time-bound solutions;
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4. approve the budget for the programs of the Commission and all
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disbursements therefrom, including compensation of all personnel;
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5. hold hearings and receive testimonies, reports and expert advice on the
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status of Philippine education;
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6. conduct multi-stakeholder consultations on the ground, including but not
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limited to the teachers, parents, local government units, and the learners
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themselves;
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7. consult with councils which are mandated to protect and promote the
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right of all citizens to quality education;


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8. pass upon the recommendations of the Technical Secretariat which it
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shall organize, to be headed by an executive director;
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9. report to Congress its accomplishments on a periodic basis;
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10. secure assistance from any office of the government;
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11.hire and appoint employees and personnel whether temporary,
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contractual, or on consultancy;
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12.summon by subpoena any public official or private citizen to testify
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before it, or require by subpoena duces tecum the production of
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necessary documents; and
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13.formulate the necessary rules and guidelines for the effective
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implementation of the objectives of this Act.
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Sec. 5. Duration ofEDCOM2. - The Commission shall accomplish its mandate
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within two (2) years from its organization.
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ATechnical Secretariat shall co-exist with the Commissionduring the said two-
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year period to provide technical and administrative support to the Commission in the
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exercise of its powers and performance of its functions under Section 4 of this Act.
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For purposes of administrative oversight on the implementation of the short-
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term and long-term policy and program recommendations of the Commission, the
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Technical Secretariat shall exist for another two-year period which shall immediately
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commence after the duration of EDCOM 2.
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Sec. 6. Composition. - The Commission shall be composed of ten (10)
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members, with five (5) members from the Senate and five (5) members from the
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House of Representatives.
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The members from the Senate shall be composed of the Chairpersons of the
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following committees:
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1. Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture;
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2. Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education;
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3. Committee on Finance;


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4. Committee on Science and Technology; and
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5. Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development
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The members from the House of Representatives shall be composed of the
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Chairpersons of the following committees:
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1. Committee on Basic Education and Culture;
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2. Committee on Higher and Technical Education;
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3. Committee on Appropriations;
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4. Committee on Science and Technology; and
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5. Committeeon Laborand Employment
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The Chairpersons of the Senate Committees on Basic Education, Arts and
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Culture, and on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, and the Chairpersons of
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the House Committees on Basic Education and Culture, and on Higher and Technical
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Education shall sen/e as Co-Chairpersons of the Commission.
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The members of the Commission may establish standing committees from
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among its members and use resource persons from the public and private sectors as
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may be needed.
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The members of the Commission shall receive no compensation, buttravelling,
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communications, and other necessary expenses shall be allowed.
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The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) shall serve as the
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research arm of the Commission. During the course of the Commission's existence, it
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shall produce data-based research and provide analysis to contribute to the
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formulation of education policy recommendations. Payment for the goods and
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compensation for sen/ices to be entailed by the PIDS for the necessary fulfillment of
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this function shall be included in the amount to be appropriated for the Commissbn
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under this Act.
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Sec. 7. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC) on EDCOM 2. -
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Immediately after the two-year duration of EDCOM 2, there is hereby created a JCOC
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to oversee, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of the recommendations of the
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Commission. The JCOC shall be composed of five (5) members each from the Senate


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and the House of Representatives, with two (2) Co-Chairpersons and two (2) Co-Vice 
Chairpersons. Each chamber shall elect a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson to be 
voted upon by the members of the JCOC who chair the following committees:
1. Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture of the Senate;
2. Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education of the Senate;
3. Committee on Basic Education and Culture of the House of 
Representatives; and
4. Committee on Higher and Technical Education of the House of 
Representatives.
The Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall 
designate the other three (3) members of the JCOC of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives, respectively, from among the members of the aforementioned 
committees, one (1) member of each chamber shall be from the minority.
Sec. 8. Appropriations.-Jhe amount necessary for the implementation of this 
Act shall be sourced from the appropriations of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives under the General Appropriations Act.
Twenty Million Pesos (PhP20,000,000.00) shall be charged annually against the 
budget of the Senate, and another Twenty Million Pesos (PhP20,000,000.00) shall be 
charged annually against the budget of the House of Representatives, both for a 
period of two (2) years, to commence on the Fiscal Year 2022, and subject to 
authorized increases that may be made by Congress.
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected shall remain in full forts 
and effect.
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, executive orders, presidential 
decrees, administrative orders, rules and regulations, issuances, or parts thereof 
inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.


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amended, or modified accordingly.
Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,