Senator Loren Legarda, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education and Co-Chair of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), presided over the public hearing on six priority bills aimed at modernizing governance in higher and technical education, strengthening professional standards and quality assurance, and expanding scholarship opportunities for Filipino students on April 23, 2026.

The committee agenda covered the Strengthening of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Charter (SB Nos. 1036 and 1427), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Modernization Act (SB Nos. 1413 and 1449), the Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) Governance Act (SB Nos. 504, 623, 1402, and 1415), the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program Act (SB Nos. 1913, 1954 and HB No. 8477), the Strengthening State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) Governance Act (SB Nos. 706 and 1414), and the Philippine Professional Standards and Quality Assurance System Act (SB No. 1426).

Legarda underscored that reforms are long overdue, noting that the charters of CHED and TESDA were enacted more than three decades ago.

“The fundamental problem is institutional. CHED’s legal mandate has not kept pace with the sector’s growth, diversification, or the policy commitments the Philippine government has made in subsequent decades,” Legarda said.

EDCOM II presented findings that highlighted structural challenges in local universities and colleges (LUCs), including disparities in faculty pay and a lack of compliance with CHED recognition. The Commission noted that poorer local government units struggle to recruit qualified faculty due to lower salary grades, perpetuating a cycle of poor-quality education.

The proposed reforms also include differentiated autonomy for SUCs based on performance, mandatory certification for governing board members, and the establishment of a Philippine Higher Education Leadership Academy to strengthen succession planning. For TESDA, the modernization act seeks to replace its board with a board of advisers, expand its Secretariat to cover enterprise-based and community skills development, and mandate impact evaluation for scholarship programs.

Meanwhile, the Professional Standards and Quality Assurance System Act aims to harmonize overlapping mandates among CHED, TESDA, and the Professional Regulation Commission, addressing outdated professional laws that restrict curriculum updates.

Legarda closed the hearing by affirming the committee’s commitment to refine the proposed reforms through technical working groups.

By anchoring the reforms on governance, accountability, and access, Legarda highlighted that education remains central to national development, ensuring that Filipino learners, especially those from poor families, can pursue quality education and secure better opportunities for the future.