The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) released its top 10 findings for 2025, sounding the alarm on widespread functional illiteracy and persistent gaps in basic services for vulnerable learners.
Topping the list was the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey, released on April 30, 2025, which showed that more than 24 million Filipinos aged 10 to 64 are functionally illiterate, while 5.8 million are basically illiterate.
The commission’s second key finding highlighted major shortcomings in inclusive education, based on an EDCOM 2 and IDinsight policy brief titled “Accelerating Support for Learners with Disabilities.”
While the Inclusive Education Act aligns with global standards, limited local resources and capacity continue to hinder implementation.
Data showed that only 391,089 learners with disabilities are enrolled in public schools—just eight percent of the estimated 5.1 million children with disabilities nationwide.
Ranked third was the limited reach of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s supplementary feeding program, which covers only 43% of malnourished children aged two to four. EDCOM 2 attributed this to structural issues and the program’s reliance on facility-based delivery.
The commission also flagged funding and governance gaps affecting nutrition, health, and education programs, including confusion that has prevented some national initiatives from reaching the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
It noted that certain agencies have scaled back services, mistakenly assuming the region’s block grant replaces national government support.
EDCOM 2 said these findings underscore the need for systemic reforms to ensure education, nutrition, and social services reach those most in need.