MANILA – The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) on Wednesday expressed full support for the establishment of the Education and Workforce Development Group (EWDG), a new inter-agency body created under Administrative Order No. 36 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

EDCOM II Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee said the EWDG directly addresses systemic issues identified in the commission’s reports, including fragmented program implementation, misaligned teacher development efforts, and inconsistent education policies.

“The establishment of the EWDG is a critical step forward in resolving the multifaceted challenges confronting our education and workforce development landscape,” Yee said. “The President’s decisive action in creating the EWDG directly responds to these findings.”

Under AO 36, the EWDG will act as the primary coordinating body for education and workforce development, tasked with formulating a 10-year National Education and Workforce Development Plan (NEWDP). The plan aims to provide unified and strategic direction to align the country’s education and workforce systems with global economic demands.

The group will also evaluate existing inter-agency bodies involved in education, propose mechanisms to streamline their functions, and identify priority programs for learning recovery, tracking learner progress, and meeting future labor requirements. EDCOM II earlier reported that education agencies are burdened with 68 interagency responsibilities but none dedicated to coordination and manpower development.

The EWDG will be chaired by the President, with the Education Secretary as co-chairperson and the Labor Secretary as vice-chairperson. Its members include officials from the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The body is mandated to oversee and monitor government programs on education and workforce development and submit monthly performance reports to the President and the Executive Secretary.

“We believe that the EWDG, with its high-level leadership and comprehensive mandate, will be instrumental in transforming the Philippine education sector into one that is responsive, competitive, and globally aligned,” Yee said.