University of the Philippines President Angelo Jimenez hosted a thanksgiving dinner for the Second Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM 2, Feb. 6 at Atencio-Libunao Hall, UP Diliman.
The event was attended by the chiefs of the Education Tri-Committee: Department of Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Shirley Agrupis, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Jose Francisco Benitez; Professional Regulation Commission Chairperson Charito Zamora; Congressman Jude Acidre, chair of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education; and EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee.
Officials commended the EDCOM 2’s efforts and expressed optimism and support for pursuing crucial tasks laid out in the commission’s final report, “Turning Point: A Decade of Necessary Reform,” and the National Education and Workforce Development Plan (2026–2035) — both of which were submitted Jan. 29 to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
EDCOM 2 was mandated to conduct a comprehensive national assessment of the performance of the country’s education sector and provide guidance on addressing identified challenges.
Jimenez acknowledged the important work done by EDCOM 2. Agrupis, meanwhile, expressed gratitude to UP and EDCOM 2, stating that the commission’s final report is a milestone in education as it provides guidance on the needed interventions and innovations.
View scenes from the event:
Benitez emphasized that every Filipino is a stakeholder in addressing the education crisis, adding that reforms must be sustained. Angara said that the commission brought together reformers from all sectors and agencies that will continue to collaborate for the ten-year plan to succeed.
Acidre pointed out the hopeful tone of the EDCOM 2 report, and lauded its recognition of the roles played by teachers, parents, and learners who are doing their best to foster learning at every stage of life. He said education is shaped by collaboration, co-ownership, and community from within and outside government.
Yee closed the brief program by thanking everyone who worked with the commission for the last three years. He highlighted the importance of having good leaders and the need for collaboration.
Among those who attended were UP officials: Alumni Regent and UP Alumni Association President Robert Lester Aranton, Regent Alfredo Pascual, Vice President for Academic Affairs Lorraine Pe Symaco, VP for Research and Innovation Joel Marciano, VP for Development Daniel Peckley Jr., VP for Public Affairs Marian Coquia-Regidor, UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II, UP Los Baños Chancellor Jose Camacho, Jr., UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee, UPD College of Engineering Dean Maria Antonia Tanchuling, and UPD College of Science Dean Cynthia Saloma.
EDCOM 2 Advisory Council member and former UP VPAA Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, former EDCOM 2 co-chairperson and former UP Regent Mark Go, officials and staff of education agencies, representatives of EDCOM 2 partners, and members of the EDCOM 2 technical secretariat were also at the event.
The UP Symphony Orchestra’s strings and woodwind sections performed at the event.