CLARK, PAMPANGA, 03 Oktubre 2025 – Bilang bahagi ng adyenda ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. na palakasin ang edukasyon sa gitna ng mga hamon, nagsagawa ng kauna-unahang Joint National Management Committee (ManCom) meeting ang Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) upang pagtibayin ang whole-of-government linkages sa pagtugon sa learning losses at iba pang mahahalagang isyu sa sektor ng edukasyon.

“Historic in its nature ang meeting na ito dahil, for the first time, nagsama-sama ang tatlong pangunahing ahensiya ng edukasyon sa bansa upang matiyak na ang ating learning delivery ay handang tumugon sa hamon ng mga kalamidad,” ani Kalihim ng Edukasyon Sonny Angara.

Matapos magsagawa ng site visit at assessment sa Bogo City, Cebu na tinamaan ng lindol, dumiretso si Sec. Angara sa Joint ManCom kung saan nakasama niya sina CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis, TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez, at EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee. Sama-sama nilang pinulong ang mga pangunahing opisyal mula sa tatlong ahensya upang talakayin ang mga agarang isyu na nakaapekto sa lahat ng antas ng kurikulum.

Pinangunahan naman ni TESDA Sec. Benitez ang isang sandaling katahimikan para sa mga Pilipinong naapektuhan—lalo na ang mga mag-aaral—ng mga nagdaang kalamidad. Binibigyang-diin niya na, “it is after all [important to be a] resilient nation, particularly when it comes to human development that we are all gathered here today.”

Sa plenary session, nakatuon ang mga pinuno at opisyal ng ahensya sa pagtugon sa mga agarang suliranin, pagpapatibay ng kolaborasyon sa pagitan ng publiko at pribadong sektor, at pagtiyak sa employability ng mga nagtapos sa iba’t ibang antas ng edukasyon.

Dumalo rin ang ilang industry partners na nagbigay-diin na ang mas malapit na pakikipagtulungan ng pamahalaan at pribadong sektor ay makapaghahanda nang mas mabuti sa mga nagtapos para sa mabilis na nagbabagong pangangailangan ng workforce.

Ibinahagi ng ilan sa mga industry partners na mayroon na silang naitatag na kolaborasyon sa mga pampublikong paaralan upang magbigay ng upskilling opportunities sa mga mag-aaral batay sa kanilang piniling career paths, at nagtanong kung paano maiaayon ang mga inisyatibong ito bilang istrukturadong career runways.

Naglatag din ang Joint ManCom, na dinaluhan din ng 15 industry partners, ng mga kasunduang naglalayong mapabuti ang kalidad at competitiveness ng mga mag-aaral na Pilipino.

Lumagda namanang DepEd, CHED, at TESDA sa isang Memorandum of Understanding hinggil sa data sharing, habang pumirma rin ng Memorandum of Agreement ang TESDA at DepEd para palakasin ang pagpapatupad ng Tech-Voc sa pinalakas na Senior High School program.

Kasama rin sa kanilang tinalakay ang mga hamon at oportunidad sa Senior High School Technical-Vocational Track, ang koneksiyon nito sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) at sa Tertiary Education Subsidy, at mga paraan upang mapalawak ang akses sa pamamagitan ng inclusive education programs. Muli rin nilang pinagtibay ang kanilang suporta sa Philippine Qualifications Framework, isang pangunahing reporma na nag-uugnay at nagpapantay sa pamantayan ng edukasyon sa buong bansa.

“This is really a milestone for our country and for our trifocalized education system. This is the time that we will be together with our team for a common goal towards quality education and address the problem and concerns on the ground,” wika ni CHED Chairperson Agrupis.

 

ENGLISH VERSION

DepEd, CHED, TESDA convene first joint ManCom to address learning losses amid disasters, crises

CLARK, PAMPANGA, 03 October 2025 – In line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s agenda to strengthen education amid challenging circumstances, the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) convened the first-ever Joint National Management Committee (ManCom) meeting. The gathering underscored a whole-of-government approach to forging better linkages and tackling learning losses as well as other pressing issues across all levels of the education sector.

“Historic in its nature ang meeting na ito dahil, for the first time, nagsama-sama ang tatlong pangunahing ahensiya ng edukasyon sa bansa upang matiyak na ang ating learning delivery ay handang tumugon sa hamon ng mga kalamidad,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

After conducting a whole-of-government relief operations in earthquake-hit Bogo City, Cebu, Sec. Angara went straight to the Joint ManCom, where he joined CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis, TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez, and EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee. Together, they convened top officials from the three education agencies to tackle urgent concerns affecting all levels of the curriculum.

TESDA Sec. Benitez also led a moment of silence for affected Filipinos—especially learners—in the aftermath of recent disasters, emphasizing that “it is after all [important to be a] resilient nation, particularly when it comes to human development that we are all gathered here today.”

During the plenary session, agency heads and officials focused on addressing urgent issues, strengthening public-private collaboration, and ensuring the employability of graduates across education levels.

The Joint ManCom also convened around 15 industry partners who underscored how closer collaboration between government and the private sector can better prepare graduates for the rapidly evolving demands of the workforce.

Some partners shared that they had already forged collaborations with public schools to provide upskilling opportunities for learners in their chosen career paths, and inquired how these initiatives could be aligned as structured career runways.

The Joint ManCom also paved the way for landmark agreements aimed at enhancing the quality and competitiveness of Filipino learners.

DepEd, CHED, and TESDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding on data sharing, while TESDA and DepEd entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to strengthen the implementation of Tech-Voc under the enhanced Senior High School program.

The agencies likewise reviewed the challenges and opportunities in the Senior High School Technical-Vocational Track, its linkages with the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Tertiary Education Subsidy, as well as ways to expand access through inclusive education programs. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the Philippine Qualifications Framework, a key reform that harmonizes education standards nationwide.

“This is really a milestone for our country and for our trifocalized education system. This is the time that we will be together with our team for a common goal towards quality education and address the problem and concerns on the ground,” CHED Chairperson Agrupis said.

END