Press Release - EDCOM 2: National agencies, education orgs back creation of education cabinet cluster

During a joint deliberation of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Culture (CBEC) and Committee on Higher and Technical Education (CHTE) on House Concurrent Resolution No. 28, national government agencies and private education organizations manifest their full support in the creation of a cabinet cluster for education.

The Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Budget and Management, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Coordinating Councils for Private Education Associations (COCOPEA), Technical Vocational School Associations of the Philippines (TVSA), and other private education groups, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, today manifested that they are in full support of the creation of a cabinet cluster for education.

The said agencies and organizations stated that this initiative will not only help streamline the policies and plans of the entire education sector, but can also ensure that resources are efficiently directed to address the learning crisis of the country.

"The [DepEd] Secretary defers to the honorable committee with the optimism that the creation of the cluster would improve greater coordination between the education agencies...The Department supports the proposal," says DepEd Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs, Omar Romero.

CHED Commissioner Ethel Agnes Valenzuela also manifested the agency's support to the concurrent resolution. "We are in full support of this proposal, specifically that the cabinet cluster will actually contribute to better alignment, better coordination, and effective implementation of priority programs."

TESDA likewise lauded the objectives of the proposed measure, stating that it will empower educational institutions in the delivery of educational services, and ensure alignment, close coordination, and effective implementation of programs in the education sector. "The work and functions of the PQFNCC [Philippine Qualification Framework National Coordinating Council] will be complementary to the cabinet