ILOILO— The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) has lauded Iloilo for pioneering a local government-led education model that may soon serve as a blueprint for national education reform.
During an education forum hosted by the Iloilo provincial government’s Education Core Group (EDCORE) and Synergeia Foundation, Inc. on July 8 at Days Hotel Iloilo, EDCOM II chairperson Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian commended the province for its Proof of Concept (POC) initiative, which yielded significant improvements in reading performance among Grade 3 pupils in select municipalities.
“Iloilo is the only province in the Philippines where local government fully owns the education agenda. This makes the province a trailblazer,” Gatchalian said. “Of all the 82 provinces, it is the only one that has fully integrated education into its governance mandate and taken accountability for student outcomes.”
The POC targeted municipalities including Igbaras, Guimbal, Leganes, Maasin, Mina, Cabatuan, Pavia, Sara, Barotac Viejo, Batad, and Lemery. Interventions included the provision of textbooks, training workshops for teachers and school heads, and capacity-building sessions for parents to support home-based learning.
These efforts, according to EDCORE, resulted in a significant jump in student reading scores from pre- to post-assessment periods.
Gatchalian said EDCOM II is now studying the potential of scaling the Iloilo POC model nationwide, citing its responsiveness to local learning needs and its alignment with the broader goals of basic education devolution.
“This initiative shows how empowering local leaders can drive real progress,” Gatchalian stressed. “When governors, mayors, superintendents, and principals collaborate—especially through active Local School Boards—we can achieve transformational outcomes.”
He also praised Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. for embracing full responsibility in addressing education sector gaps at the local level. The senator emphasized that such political will is vital in achieving national learning recovery targets.
The education forum gathered educators, policymakers, and stakeholders to reflect on the success of the pilot program and strategize further improvements./PN
