DepEd urges whole-of-government action as EDCOM2 report turned over to PBBM

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MANILA, 29 January 2026— The Department of Education (DepEd) called for a whole-of-government approach to address the country’s learning crisis, as it formally received the EDCOM 2 Final Report and turned over the National Education and Workforce Development Plan (NatPlan) to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in a ceremony at Malacañan Palace on Thursday.



“The report includes the NatPlan, which offers us a 10-year plan to address the learning crisis, that can be solved if we act in unity and with determination and consistency,” President Marcos said.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the recommendations of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) underscore that while DepEd has begun implementing major reforms, many of the most critical changes require coordinated action from other government agencies, Congress, local governments, and the private sector.

“The learning crisis is not a DepEd problem alone. The roadmap is clear, but delivery will depend on how well the entire government moves together,” Angara said. “We are ready to work closely with Congress and all our partners to ensure that these reforms are felt in our schools and by our teachers and learners.”


Early childhood, nutrition body coordination

DepEd said findings reinforce the urgency of strengthening early childhood care and development, particularly nutrition interventions for children aged 0 to 5, which it noted cannot be addressed by the education sector alone. The Department pointed to the need for stronger coordination and clearer accountability among agencies involved in early childhood nutrition and care, including the National Nutrition Council and the Departments of Health, Social Welfare and Development, and Interior and Local Government.



The agency also echoed the report’s emphasis on sustained national and local funding to support the conversion of daycare centers into child development centers, a function largely carried out by local government units with national government support.

Workforce plan alignment

Likewise, DepEd highlighted persistent gaps between education and employment outcomes, underscoring the need for closer alignment with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), particularly in Senior High School, technical-vocational pathways, and teacher education and licensure.



DepEd cited the report’s support for establishing a unified labor market information system involving the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and TESDA, as well as fully operationalizing enterprise-based training and industry-led upskilling programs.



Congress, DBM critical to financing and structural reforms

Angara said carrying out the reforms will also depend on Congress updating several key education laws, including rules on how local governments use education funds, expanding the Adopt-a-School program so more private groups can support learning programs, and modernizing teacher licensing to ensure quality training and hiring.



The Department also flagged the need to adjust laws governing school division management and teacher deployment, and to fully enforce existing measures that link education with jobs and skills training, so students move more smoothly from school to work.

The report likewise calls on Congress and the Department of Budget and Management to support staffing reforms across DepEd, CHED, and TESDA, noting that expanded mandates under K to 12, free higher education, and TVET reforms have outpaced existing human resource structures.


The Department also cited the report’s call to strengthen inter-agency coordination, including reinforcing the Education and Workforce Development Group as a platform for joint planning, aligned budgets, and shared accountability.


Angara said DepEd is ready to play its part but emphasized that sustained reform will require institutional discipline across government and across multiple administrations.


“We already see alignment under President Marcos’ leadership. The challenge now is execution — staying the course, aligning budgets and incentives, and holding ourselves jointly accountable for learning outcomes,” he said.

Invest in Effective Solid Waste Law Implementation and Waste Reduction, Not WTE - BAN Toxics

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As International Zero Waste Month draws to a close, environmental NGO BAN Toxics urged the Philippine government to abandon plans to pursue waste-to-energy (WTE) as a solution to the country’s escalating waste problem. The call came after Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced during the 25th anniversary of RA 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, that she intends to file a bill amending said law to allow the use of WTE technology for waste disposal. RA 9003 was the first law she signed as president.



According to the group, the government should first focus on effectively implementing RA 9003 and addressing persistent gaps, noting that improper waste disposal, insufficient infrastructure, and lack of public awareness remain widespread. BAN Toxics emphasized that the law has yet to be fully realized, even after 25 years.



The 2023 Commission on Audit (COA) report shows that only a fraction of barangays have operational Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs), with just 39 percent of barangays (16,418 of 42,046) served by MRFs in 2021. Many local government units also lack adequate sanitary landfills, with only 29.25 percent (478 of 1,634 LGUs) having access to SLFs, leaving much of the country’s waste improperly managed or sent to dumpsites instead of environmentally sound facilities.



Under RA 9003, LGUs are mandated to divert at least 25 percent of their solid waste through reuse, recycling, composting, and other resource recovery activities, with targets increasing every three years. However, official assessments show that many LGUs have struggled to meet these diversion requirements in practice, with much waste still unmanaged or improperly disposed.



The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has also acknowledged a lack of recycling infrastructure and waste processing facilities as a key barrier to effective implementation, adding that waste segregation at the source remains inconsistent across local governments.



“We should first conduct a comprehensive assessment of RA 9003, and invest our efforts and resources in improving its implementation before considering waste-to-energy or other burn technologies,” said Jam Lorenzo, BAN Toxics Deputy Executive Director and Head of Policy Development and Research.



According to Lorenzo, WTE is not clean energy, as it produces a wide range of toxic chemicals, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that remain in the environment for a long time. Citing a biomonitoring study by Zero Waste Europe from 2023–2024, Lorenzo said that even the most advanced waste incineration technologies emit unintentionally produced POPs, such as dioxins and furans.



He also noted that WTE facilities prefer dry, inorganic waste such as plastics due to its high energy content. “WTE is often framed as a solution to plastic pollution, but burning plastics creates new environmental and health risks by releasing toxic pollutants. Instead of reducing plastic waste, it only encourages continued virgin plastic production derived from fossil fuels, reinforcing dependence on extractive industries that drive pollution and climate change.”



The DENR estimates that the Philippines produces about 61,000 metric tons of solid waste every day, 12 to 24 percent of which is plastic. This translates to around 163 million plastic sachet packets, 48 million shopping bags, and 45 million thin-film bags used daily.



BAN Toxics is advocating for a Zero Waste framework to address the waste crisis, calling for decisive action to reduce or eliminate waste at the source by cutting reliance on plastics, especially single-use plastics, and ensuring accountability from producers and corporations for the full lifecycle of their products. The approach emphasizes designing products and systems that prevent waste from being generated, while promoting reusable and refillable packaging, community-based recycling and composting, and behavioral change among consumers to adopt more sustainable habits.



“Waste-to-energy may promise an easy solution, but it is a false one. Easy fixes rarely solve systemic problems. Lasting change comes from investing in systems and infrastructure needed to properly implement our waste management laws and reduce waste at the source,” Lorenzo said.



BAN Toxics stresses the need for a fundamental shift from fragmented, “end-of-pipe” waste disposal to integrated, sustainable, and holistic approaches. The group notes that current siloed efforts by the government can be inefficient, costly, and environmentally harmful. It advocates for a systems approach that coordinates technologies, policies, and community actions to achieve more sustainable waste management outcomes.

STI’s Tagisan ng Sining celebrates next wave of Filipino visionaries

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The spotlight returned to STI College for academic year 2025-2026 as it hosted “Tagisan ng Sining,” an annual search for creative excellence among student filmmakers and photographers.

This year’s short film competition “Director’s Cut” challenged 54 student teams to explore the theme “Memory as Resistance.”

Blending live action and animation, “Tao” by Kym Kaisha Dechoson, Narciso Dugay III, and Daniela Lainez of Girls Night Out Productions (STI Global City), emerged as the National Champion.

“Sa Duyan ng Gunita,” a recollection of a memory from 1978, by Natalie Shane Angulo, Angelica Blanche Salva, and Mark Lawrence Telles of PCL Pictures (STI College Cubao) won first runner-up.

A strong call to preserve culture, “Kalinangan” by Sean Maverick James Inaldo, Angeline Arcilla, and Loyd Denver Palisoc of Re:Take Films (STI College Angeles) was awarded second runner-up.

“Between the Lines” by Niko Liwag, Monica Lucia Aguilar, and Deida Miranda of NMD Productions (STI College Las Piñas) and “Dito at Doon” by Yaz Rohann Barrameda, Sophia Andrelyn Napay, and Matthew Job Estacio of Zenith Productions (STI College Ortigas-Cainta) earned third and fourth runner-up awards, respectively.

The films were judged by Madonna Tarrayo, CEO of Unitel Productions and Straight Shooters Media; Joel Bohol Jr., art director for commercials, film and television; and Seymour Sanchez, film educator and former technical consultant of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

In the photography category, 56 entries transformed ordinary moments into visual masterpieces under the theme “Borrowed Light.”

Cyken Besana Caro, first year BS Business Administration major from STI West Negros University, was declared the National Champion for his photo of a serene playground scene.

Jiether Gonzales Rabor, third year, BMMA student from STI College Tacurong, was named first runner-up for his conceptual journey of learning.

Nick James Bueno Ramos, Grade 12 ITMAWD student from STI College Sta. Mesa, won second runner-up for his study on guiding light through dim phases.

Nash Hernandez Rebutiaco, 4th Year BMMA major from STI College Santa Rosa and Niño Anthony Noya Zamora, Grade 11 ITMAWD student from STI College Davao were awarded third runner-up and fourth runner-up, respectively.

The photographs were evaluated by Aron Garcia, Special Project Coordinator for Nikon Philippines and Imaging Consultant for Canon Marketing Philippines; Jay Jallorina, renowned architectural photographer and Fujifilm Philippines Brand Ambassador; and Jijo De Guzman, leading photography advisor and grand prize winner of the Batanes International Photography Awards.

As “Tagisan ng Sining” continues to evolve, it remains a vital platform for STI students to discover new perspectives and refine their creative vision.