(Photo courtesy of TINGOG Party-list.)
TACLOBAN CITY – Tingog Party-list Representatives Jude Acidre and Andrew Julian Romualdez have filed three landmark bills in the House of Representatives seeking to overhaul the governance of the country’s higher and technical-vocational education system.
The measures aim to modernize the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), strengthen the governance of state universities and colleges (SUCs), and establish a unified framework for local universities and colleges (LUCs). Collectively, the bills are intended to create a more coordinated, responsive, and accountable post-secondary education system in the Philippines.
Rep. Acidre, chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education and co-chairperson of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), said the reforms focus on ensuring schools and training institutions genuinely serve the aspirations of Filipino learners.
“Our young people deserve schools and training centers that can prepare them for the future they dream of. Modernizing TESDA, strengthening governance in SUCs, and setting clear standards for LUCs are steps to make sure our institutions are not just keeping up with change, but helping students get ahead,” Acidre said. “At the heart of these reforms is a simple promise—that every Filipino learner will have the chance to succeed and build a better life.”
Rep. Romualdez, vice chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, emphasized that the bills go beyond institutions to address the needs of students and their families.
“At its core, education reform is about fostering potential. It’s about recognizing the dreams of our students and their families who look to us for guidance and support. This legislative initiative is intended to fortify our educational framework, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to excel and carve out a future that reflects their ambitions and capabilities,” Romualdez said.
The three bills filed by TINGOG are: House Bill 4798 (TESDA Modernization Act of 2025) – Updates RA 7796 to strengthen TESDA’s authority, devolve certain training functions to local government units (LGUs), establish industry boards, and modernize assessment and scholarship systems; House Bill 4799 – Amends RA 8292 (Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997) to revise the composition and powers of SUC governing boards, clarify CHED’s role, introduce differentiated autonomy, and establish a Philippine Higher Education Academy to professionalize leadership; and House Bill 4800 (Local Universities and Colleges Governance Act) – Prescribes mandatory guidelines for establishing and governing LUCs, strengthens workforce development functions, and grants fiscal autonomy to ensure quality and relevant education.
“These reforms represent our covenant with future generations—to transform education from a maze of uncertainties into a clear pathway of possibilities. When we succeed here, we’re not just reforming institutions; we’re giving every Filipino student the tools that can transform not just their lives, but our nation’s future,” Acidre said.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
