Congress is pushing for stronger legislative support for universities and colleges to expand access to higher education and ensure institutions remain responsive to the needs of Filipino students.
During the Higher Education Summit 2026 organized by the Commission on Higher Education in Clark Freeport Zone, Tingog Party-list Representative and House Committee on Higher and Technical Education Chairperson Jude Acidre emphasized that education policies directly affect the lives of students and their families.
“Behind every bill in Congress is a student sitting in a classroom trying to make sense of a difficult lesson,” Acidre said.
He noted that discussions in Congress often revolve around policies, reforms, and institutional systems, but these ultimately determine whether students are given opportunities to learn and succeed.
“When we speak about education, we are never speaking only about systems and institutions. We are speaking about lives, about hopes, about the quiet aspirations that families carry every single day,” he added.
Acidre said strengthening higher education remains a key legislative priority, noting that his committee has proposed a 10-point higher education agenda aimed at supporting the continued growth and transformation of universities and colleges.
The proposed agenda includes measures to strengthen institutional governance to ensure universities remain accountable and capable of long-term planning. It also aims to expand access to higher education for students from various regions and improve higher education financing.
Other initiatives promote stronger collaboration between academic institutions and industries to ensure graduates develop skills relevant to the country’s economic and technological needs.
The agenda also supports faculty development, research initiatives, digital innovation in teaching and learning, and sustained public investment in higher education.
Acidre said these initiatives are essential to ensure that universities and colleges continue to nurture the potential of Filipino students and prepare them to contribute to national development.
