MANILA – Leading universities, civil society organizations, think tanks, and international development agencies have pledged support for the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) final report and the National Education and Workforce Development Plan (NatPlan) 2026–2035, following its release last week.

Titled “Turning Point: A Decade of Necessary Reforms (2026–2035),” the report lays out a strategic response to the country’s “proficiency collapse,” proposing a comprehensive decadal roadmap to reverse the Philippine learning crisis.

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), EDCOM’s primary research arm, highlighted the rigor of the studies underpinning the reforms. PIDS President Dr. Philip Arnold Tuaño said, “Rigorous analysis and clear recommendations become even more important to ensure that reforms are grounded in evidence and responsive to the country’s real needs.”

UNICEF Philippines described the report as a “critical guide” for necessary reforms. Representative Kyungsun Kim said, “UNICEF is proud to have supported EDCOM2 over the past three years in uncovering bottlenecks and identifying opportunities to end the learning crisis,” adding that “our work does not end here” as the agency continues to help ensure inclusive and effective reforms.

ChildFund Philippines also endorsed the report as a “historic roadmap for reform,” emphasizing that “a plan is only as good as the lives it changes” and urging government leaders to ensure the findings “do not remain ‘just a report’.”

Education groups likewise underscored the need for systemic transformation over temporary fixes. Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) said the report shows that “the time for incremental change and knee-jerk policy reactions has passed,” calling for decisive action and sustained political will. Meanwhile, the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU), representing over 800 institutions nationwide, expressed readiness to collaborate with the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education, noting that EDCOM’s recommendations on quality assurance are “central to sustaining educational improvement and public trust in educational outcomes.”

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education (CBCP-ECCE), in a joint statement with the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), described implementation of the report as “not an end but a beginning” and called for “conscience, courage, and coherence in action.”

Leading universities also reaffirmed their support. The Society of Jesus Educational Apostolate (SJEA), which includes Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo de Davao University, Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan, and several other institutions, praised the report’s “comprehensiveness and depth.” De La Salle Philippines (DLSP), representing 16 institutions including De La Salle University, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, and De La Salle Lipa, said the EDCOM 2 roadmap creates “a lasting legacy of excellence” while emphasizing research and localization of Sustainable Development Goals to address systemic issues.

The NatPlan sets ambitious targets to address the three-decade decline in Philippine education, including:

• Reducing stunting from 23.6% (2023) to under 10% by 2035.
• Increasing early childhood education participation among 3–4-year-olds from 34% (2024) to 90% by 2035.
• Raising Grade 3 learners reading at grade level from 47.74% (2025) to 95% by 2035.
• Improving Grade 12 learners’ proficiency in the National Achievement Test from 0.40% to 90% by 2035.
• Increasing education spending as a percentage of GDP from 4.4% (2026) to at least 5.5% by 2035.

Stakeholders collectively emphasized that evidence-based reforms, sustained political will, and coordinated implementation are critical to translating the plan into meaningful outcomes for students nationwide.