Vico Sotto, ex-ADMU president Niebres, 8 more named EDCOM II policy advisers

The Senate on Tuesday named eight individuals and two civil society organizations to serve as policy advisers to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).

Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said this is in accordance with Section 13 of Republic Act 11899 or the law that created the EDCOM II.

Section 13 of the law provides for the creation of an Education, Legislation and Policy Advisory Council which will "provide the commission with expert assistance and advice."

The same section of the law mandates the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to choose two "recognized experts" from the following sectors: academe, business sector, government education agencies, heads of the local government units, and civil society organizations and development partners engaged in education.

From the academe, Senator JV Ejercito, who was presiding over the session on behalf of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, named former Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Bienvenido Niebres and former dean of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy in the University of the Philippines Ma. Cynthia Rose Bautista as advisers.

Alfredo Ayala and Dr. Chito Salazar will represent the business sector, while former TESDA director-general Irene Isaac and Private Education Assistance Committee executive director Doris Ferrer will serve as advisers to EDCOM II  from the government education agencies.

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano were also named as advisors from the LGUs.

Completing the advisory council are Sinerhiya Foundation and E-Net Philippines, representing the civil society organization and development partners engaged in education.

Under the law, all members of the advisory council shall always be present in all EDCOM II meetings.

In August, Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Francis Escudero on Wednesday were named  co-chairpersons of EDCOM II.

Gatchalian is the chairperson of the Senate basic education committee while Escudero heads the Senate higher, technical and vocational education panel.

Joining them as members of the commission are Senators Sonny Angara, Pia Cayetano and Villanueva.

RA 11899 creates the EDCOM II, which is tasked to undertake a comprehensive national assessment and evaluation of the Philippine education sector's performance.

The body seeks to develop a more holistic, harmonized and coordinated education ecosystem, through a review of the mandates of the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

It likewise recommends the adoption and institutionalization of relevant and meaningful assessment tools, such as teaching and learning competencies assessment tools, based on the best global practices to be used by educational agencies and institutions for their continued monitoring, evaluation, and development. — BM, GMA Integrated News