Legarda to bolster DepEd, modernize Adopt-a-School, face literacy crisis
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, has led the push for education reforms.
That is in hopes to finally allow the optimization and rationalization of Schools Division Offices, and modernization of the Adopt‑a‑School program to draw stronger private sector and community support.
She also pushes for the establishment of a national K to 3 framework to directly confront the country’s literacy crisis, and creation of a National Coordinating Council for Education to ensure alignment of policies and budgets across the education sector.
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The Committee’s public hearing on June 2, 2026 gathered key national agencies including DepEd, DOLE, DICT, DOST, DOH, DSWD, BIR, CHED, TESDA, EDCOM II, alongside resource persons from academic institutions, civil society, and education advocates. Their inputs provided critical perspectives on the reforms needed to strengthen the country’s basic education system.
“I have called this hearing to examine several measures that address critical and interconnected challenges within our education system, from governance and service delivery to foundational learning and stakeholder participation. We are hearing these measures together because they all seek to strengthen the foundations of Philippine education,” Legarda said.
The Creation and Rationalization of Schools Division Offices bills (SBN 2089 by Sen. Bam Aquino and SBN 2205 by Legarda) propose amendments to RA 9155 to authorize DepEd, with DBM, to reorganize divisions and establish additional SDOs based on objective criteria, ensuring at least one per province and city and easing congestion in very large divisions.
Legarda stressed that this reform is long overdue, noting that without such authority, even the most capable DepEd Secretary cannot legally decongest workloads.
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The Adopt-a-School amendments (SBN 54 by Sen. Gatchalian, SBN 129 by Sen. Aquino, SBN 775 by Sen. Pia Cayetano, SBN 2146 by Sen. Villanueva, and SBN 794 by Legarda) seek to modernize the 1998 law by expanding coverage to ECCD, ALS, TVET, and higher education, establishing a one stop online portal, and broadening tax incentives to make private support more accessible and accountable.
Legarda emphasized that the law must be updated to mobilize stronger partnerships from the private sector and communities in advancing educational outcomes.
The K to 3 Foundational Learning and Nurturing Care Act (SBN 1853 by Legarda) establishes a national program to secure literacy, numeracy, and socio emotional skills in the early grades. Based on EDCOM II data drawn from DepEd’s National Achievement Test results in 2023 and 2024, only 31% of Grade 3 learners are proficient. By Grade 12, the figure drops dramatically, with just 0.4% of students reaching proficiency.
As Co-Chair of EDCOM II, Legarda underscored that the country must confront the literacy crisis at its roots by ensuring children can read and learn in their formative years, linking classroom instruction with health, nutrition, and culturally relevant learning materials.
The National Coordinating Council for Education bills (SBN 625 by Sen. Gatchalian and SBN 2101 by Legarda) propose a high-level body under the Office of the President to align DepEd, CHED, and TESDA policies and budgets, addressing fragmentation in the tri-focalized system and rationalizing over 200 existing interagency councils. Legarda expressed cautious support, noting the need for genuine coordination but warning against duplication unless existing councils are legally subsumed under one body.
“We must confront the root cause of the learning crisis. Strengthening governance, modernizing partnerships, and securing foundational learning are urgent responsibilities to ensure that Filipino children can truly read, learn, and thrive,” Legarda said.
Legarda concluded that the committee will refine the measures further in a series of Technical Working Group (TWG) meetings, where resource persons and stakeholders will present detailed suggestions and technical inputs. She committed to personally shepherd these reforms through the legislative process until they are enacted into law.
