Cayetano presses government for firm call on K–12 future

MANILA, Philippines, Feb. 3 — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday urged the government to make a clear decision on whether to fully fund or reconsider the K–12 program, saying uncertainty over its direction threatens the country’s long-term education strategy.

Speaking during deliberations on the proposed National Education and Workforce Development Plan 2026–2035, which adopts recommendations from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), Cayetano backed the 10-year framework but said the unresolved status of K–12 remains a central issue.

“Mr. President, I rise today to put this on record. Maganda ang 10-year plan, I support it. Maganda po ang findings ng EDCOM 2 – y’ung first, second, and third publications. But the big elephant in the room is if we decide to fully fund it (K to 12),” Cayetano said.

(“The 10-year plan is good, I support it. The findings of EDCOM 2 — the first, second, and third publications — are good. But the big elephant in the room is whether we decide to fully fund K to 12,” he said in Filipino and English.)

Cayetano said education targets should reflect domestic realities rather than mirror standards in developed countries, and argued that curriculum changes alone would not improve outcomes without stronger support systems.

Citing EDCOM 2 data, he pointed to learning results showing only 0.4% of Grade 12 students reaching proficiency, while 74% fail to meet minimum skill standards.

A long-time critic of the program’s rollout, Cayetano said K–12 has yet to deliver promised gains in education equity.

Since returning to the Senate in 2022, he has called for what he described as a “radical decision” — either suspend the program or fully fund it.

He said the program’s goals are being constrained by indecision despite efforts by education officials and stakeholders.

“I don’t want to use half-hearted kasi tumotodo naman tayo. But ang punto ko, kung hanggang 100 kilometers ang takbo ng kotse at kaya natin mag-100 kilometers, no one can say na half-hearted tayo. Pero kung hanggang 200 kilometers ang takbo ng kotse, at sabihin natin, ‘Boss, hanggang 120 lang kaya natin, yung 80, hindi’, y’ung potential na 80 ay half-hearted,” he said.

(“I don’t want to use ‘half-hearted’ because we are really exerting effort. But my point is, if a car can run at 200 kilometers per hour and we say we can only go 120, then the remaining 80 of its potential is half-hearted,” he said in Filipino and English.)

While supporting the resolution, Cayetano said lawmakers would eventually have to confront the issue directly as the government moves toward budgeting and implementation timelines under the education plan.