PASAY CITY—The Senate Sub-committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization, and Professional Regulation met on February 3, 2026, to fast-track amendments to the 30-year-old Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act. 

Presiding over the hearing, Senator Win Gatchalian said that the six proposed measures are critical to modernizing teacher qualifications and directly improving student outcomes. 

The reforms address what he called a 'misalignment' in current licensing and aim to ensure that only the most prepared educators enter Filipino classrooms.

During the session, Gatchalian called on government agencies and education stakeholders for "transformative" inputs to refine the bill. Key proposals include specialized licensure exams for early childhood and special needs educators, as well as stricter requirements for the Board for Professional Teachers. 

By refocusing the law on high-quality standards from procedural registration to quality standards, the committee aims to build a more competent teaching force capable of meeting the demands of 21st-century learning.

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