National Coordinating Council for Education (Ncce) Act

Senate Dilier of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 26 MAY -5 P3:42 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: 2101 S. No. — Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION, DEFINING ITS MANDATE, POWERS, AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE The 1987 Constitution affirms the duty of the State to take appropriate measures to make education accessible to all. In the same vein, the Constitution mandates the State to "establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education" that is responsive to the needs of the people and society.' This constitutional directive underscores not only the obligation to expand access, but also the responsibility to ensure that the education system is coherent, comprehensive, and aligned with national development goals. Over the past three years, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) has consistently pointed out that while the trifocalized governance structure across Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) provides clear sectoral mandates, the absence of a strong and sustained coordination mechanism has led to policy incoherence, overlapping initiatives, and blurred lines of accountability? As a result, priorities have at times been misaligned, resources inefficiently utilized, and reforms disrupted with changes in administration. As emphasized in Priority Area 23 (Ensuring Seamless and Integrated Delivery 1 Section 1, Article XIV (Education), 1987 Constitution. 2 The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM Il). Turning Point: A Decade of Necessary Reform (2026-2035). p.348 https://edcom2.gov.ph/media/2026/01/EDCOM-II-Y03-for-web-012626 final.pdf

of Education)3 of EDCOM Il's final report, there is a need for a more coherent governance architecture that guarantees alignment, accountability, and sustained collaboration across agencies. The absence of such a mechanism has long hindered the country's ability to deliver consistent, integrated, and future-ready education. On 13 August 2025, the Office of the President issued Administrative Order No. 36,4 creating the Education and Workforce Development Group (EWDG)S as the central coordinating body for education and workforce matters. This initiative sought to fill a long-standing governance gap, recognizing that successful education systems worldwide are anchored on apex coordination mechanisms with direct executive authority. To guarantee permanence, stability, and institutional continuity, bill seeks to establish the National Coordinating Council for Education (NCCE) as the statutory body for education and workforce development governance. The NCCE will harmonize education and workforce reforms by aligning agency policies, budgets, and programs with the National Education and Workforce Development Plan, and by developing a comprehensive human resource plan for teachers and education professionals. It will modernize the labor market information system, establish an integrated learner data system, rationalize overlapping inter-agency bodies, and strengthen accountability through a results-based monitoring and evaluation framework. By institutionalizing the NCCE, this measure ensures that education reforms are effectively implemented and sustained. It addresses systemic gaps and strengthens a governance framework capable of preparing Filipino learners for the demands of a rapidly evolving workforce. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. LOREN LEGARDA * Ibid., at p.351 https://edcom2.gov.ph/media/2026/01/EDCOM-II-Y03-for-web-012626 final.pdf * Administrative Order No. 36. Establishing the Education and Workforce Development Group https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2025/08/13/administrative-order-no-36-s-2025/ 5 Presidential Communications Office. PBBM issues AO No. 36 establishing education, workforce dev't group. https://pco.gov.ph/news. releases/pbbm-issues-ao-no-36-establishing-education-workforce-devt-group/

Senate Offite of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 26 MAY -5 P3:42 First Regular Session SENATE 2101 S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION, DEFINING ITS MANDATE, POWERS, AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Coordinating

2 Council for Education (NCCE) Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to

4 protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. The State recognizes 6 the need to address the learning crisis and ensure the seamlessness of the education 7 system. To this end, the State shall establish a permanent mechanism to ensure 8 strong, effective, and continuous coordination among the agencies involved in 9 education and workforce development, ensuring that reforms and priorities remain consistent regardless of changes in national administration.

Sec. 3. Creation of the National Coordinating Council for Education. - There is

hereby created under the Office of the President a high-level inter-agency body to be known as the National Coordinating Council for Education (NCCE), hereinafter referred to as the Council, which shall serve as the primary mechanism for directing, coordinating, and monitoring education and workforce development reforms across 16 the Executive Branch.

The Council shall operate under the supervision of the Office of the President 2 and shall ensure alignment of agency policies, plans, programs, and budgets with the National Education and Workforce Development Plan, and other subsequent midterm 4 and long-term plans on education and workforce development.

Sec. 4. Composition of the Council. - The President of the Philippines shall serve

6 as Chairperson of the Council. The President may designate a Cabinet Secretary as 7 Vice Chairperson to oversee day-to-day coordination, with the following as members: (a) Secretary, Department of Education (DepEd); (b) Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education (CHED); (c) Director General, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); (d) Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DOST); (e) Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); (f) Secretary, Department of Budget and Management (DBM); and (g) Secretary, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).

Sec. 5. Powers and Functions. - The Council shall have the following powers

and functions: (a) Serve as venue for regular collaboration and coordination to ensure harmonized policies and programs of the education agencies, and other relevant government bodies; (b) Implement, refine, and update the National Education and Workforce Development Plan, to inform and ensure coherence of targets, priorities, and resource allocations of member agencies; (c) Ensure alignment and convergence with existing inter-agency mechanisms, including those established under Administrative Order No. 36, s. 2025, and harmonize policies, plans, and programs across relevant bodies to avoid duplication, strengthen coordination, and maximize the efficient use of government resources. (d) Oversee, coordinate, and monitor the implementation of priority education and workforce development reforms, including those identified by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), and such other reform initiatives as may be adopted by the Council, in order to ensure

coherence, continuity, and sustained impact across administrations; (e) Develop and implement a comprehensive human resource in education development plan, including the supply and demand of teachers and non- teaching professionals and personnel required to support the needs of the education sector; (f) Review and endorse major education sector budget proposals prior to submission to DBM; (g) Propose and jointly implement, through relevant agencies, scholarship programs, research, grants, trainings, and other initiatives, to support the above plans and to strengthen the capacity of the system as a whole; (h) Upgrade the country's labor market information (LMI) system to better inform student and school choice, including offerings in Senior High School, TVET, higher education, and other lifelong learning opportunities, and to serve as evidence-based in the strategic identification of government priorities for scholarship programs and other grants; Establish, implement, and maintain an interoperable data system that tracks learner progress beginning in early childhood, ensuring integration of data across relevant agencies, in partnership with, but not limited to, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Department of Health (DOH), National Nutrition Council (NNC), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT); i) Review and propose mechanisms to rationalize interagency bodies participated in by the education agencies, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management, consistent with Republic Act (RA) No. 12231 or the Government Optimization Act; (k) Recommend to the Legislative-Executive Advisory Council (LEDAC) key legislative measures related to education and workforce development; (1) Implement and monitor key government reforms in education, including the recommendations of EDCOM II; (m) Submit to the Office of the President, the Senate of the Philippines, and the House of Representatives an annual report on the status of the

implementation of the National Education and Workforce Development Plan, including its policy recommendations and the progress and accomplishments in relation to the Council's goals and objectives.

Sec. 6. Technical Working Groups. - To support the work of the Council, the

5 body may create Technical Working Groups in identified priority areas. Said Groups 6 shall be composed of senior officials from member agencies, with at least the level of 7 Assistant Secretary or Director IV of the relevant offices handling these concerns. Further, the Council may invite or enjoin relevant heads of departments and agencies to join the Council and/or Groups, as necessary. This includes other executive 10 agencies, heads of industry and educational associations and other organizations, as well as representatives of relevant sectoral groups, to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness.

Sec. 7. Convergence and Accountability. - All Heads of the member-agencies

14 of NCCE, including their respective attached agencies, are hereby directed to render 15 their full and timely assistance and cooperation to the Council, and provide such information and data as may be required to carry out its mandates. The Council may call upon the assistance of such other agencies of the Government, as may be necessary in the performance of its functions. All member agencies shall be accountable for the timely and effective implementation of programs, projects, and activities aligned with the National Education and Workforce Development Plan. Furthermore, the Council shall establish a results-based monitoring and 23 evaluation framework, with clear targets, performance indicators, and reporting mechanisms. Member agencies, as well as those invited or enjoined to support the work of the Council, shall regularly submit such data, reports, and information as may be required to assess progress and ensure accountability.

Sec. 8. The Council Secretariat. - The Secretariat shall serve as the central

technical, analytical, and program management arm of the Council, and shall be responsible for policy analysis, program coordination, monitoring and evaluation, data integration, and the provision of strategic and administrative support necessary for the effective discharge of the Council's mandate. It shall be headed by an Executive Director with the rank of Undersecretary, who shall be appointed by the President.

The Secretariat may be staffed by a core complement of permanent personnel and augmented, as necessary, by technical experts, seconded personnel from member 3 and other government agencies, and contracted specialists, subject to existing civil 4 service, budgeting, procurement, and auditing laws, rules, and regulations.

Sec. 9. Rationalization and Convergence of Inter-Agency Bodies. - To promote

6 policy coherence and administrative efficiency, the Council shall serve as the primary 7 inter-agency platform for matters relating to education and workforce development. Accordingly, existing inter-agency councils, committees, and similar bodies with 9 substantially similar mandates or memberships shall, to the extent practicable, conduct their coordination, deliberations, and decision-making through the Council or its Technical Working Groups. Meetings convened by the Council or its duly authorized Technical Working 13 Groups shall be deemed compliance with the meeting and coordination requirements 14 of such bodies, subject to applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

Sec. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation

of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the Office of the 17 President. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continuous implementation shall 18 be included in the budget proposal of the Office of the President in the annual General 19 Appropriations Act, subject to existing budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and 20 regulations.

Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared

22 invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected shall remain in full force 23 and effect.

Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,

administrative orders, rules and regulations, issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,