SENATOR Bam Aquino sponsored the Committee Report to amend Section 5 of Republic Act No. 10533, or the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.” This amendment grants the Department of Education (DepEd) the flexibility to determine the most effective pedagogical approaches, officially removing the strict statutory mandate to use the “spiral progression” approach under the provision.
The push for this educational reform is heavily backed by the stark findings of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2). According to the EDCOM 2 Year One Report titled “Miseducation: The failed system of Philippine education,” the spiral progression approach has resulted in severe gaps in foundational knowledge and poor retention among learners, as competencies are repeatedly taught across grade levels without meaningful progression.
Furthermore, the EDCOM 2 Year Two Report, “Fixing the Foundations: A matter of national survival,” emphasizes that the current rigid, centralized pedagogical framework fails to provide the necessary localization and adaptation required for varied learning contexts, such as the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd).
In its Final Report released in January, “Turning Point: A Decade of Necessary Reform (2026-2035),” the Commission once again found that the mandated spiral progression approach has “failed to ensure the intended cumulative learning across grade levels”. The Commission’s findings highlight that the current framework forces teachers to function as generalists rather than subject experts, particularly in crucial subjects like Science and Mathematics. This has led to congested instruction where learners ultimately fail to achieve true mastery of foundational knowledge and skills.
“According to EDCOM 2 and to our own consultations with teachers, nakita po namin how this rigidity of the legislated curriculum sequencing has been challenging to our students and teachers. In short, naging batas ang paggamit ng methodology na ito sa ating bansa”, Sen. Bam Aquino stated. “Nais nating magkaroon ng flexibility ang DepEd sa curriculum na kanilang ginagamit. Rather than mandating specific methodologies, binibigyan natin ng espasyo ang DepEd na magkaroon ng flexibility sa kanilang ginagamit na curriculum.”
Aquino further emphasized that the bill does not completely remove the spiral progression method. “’Di po natin ibig sabihin na hindi na gagamitin ang spiral progression. In fact, it can still be used by our schools and by our teachers. Instead, the bill removes the legal requirement to adhere to this certain method of teaching”, he said.
EDCOM 2 Commissioner Sen. Win Gatchalian is a vocal supporter of the measure. “Tanggalin na lang natin sa batas”, Gatchalian said in a January 20 Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing. “Kapag spiral progression, ineexpect natin na that student will know the subject matter or be ready for the subject matter for the higher grade level. But apparently, hindi pa siya ready”, he continued.
Gatchalian, during his co-sponsorship speech, cited an Assessment, Curriculum and Technology Research Centre study that found that teachers often lacked the time to teach all competencies under the spiral progression approach. “Dahil sa kakulangan sa oras, hindi lubos na naituturo lahat ng kinakailangang competencies. Malaki ang nagiging negatibong epekto nito sa ating mag-aaral. Umaakyat sila sa susunod na baitang nang hindi pa ganap na nahuhubong ang kanilang pundasyon para maintindihan ang mga susunod at mas mahirap na leksyon”, Gatchalian continued.
To maintain educational relevance, the proposed measure also introduces a critical safeguard: the curriculum will now be subject to a mandatory, systematic periodic review at intervals of no less than once every five (5) years. This ensures the curriculum’s continued effectiveness in achieving national education goals following a systematic development process.
“We can no longer afford to hold our students back with a one-size-fits-all approach,” Aquino added. “This bill empowers DepEd, our educators, and local implementors to adopt context-sensitive and evidence-based teaching methods. This is about equipping our teachers with the right tools and autonomy to deliver quality education tailored to the diverse realities of Filipino learners.”
Aquino sponsored Senate Bills 624 and 530, authored by EDCOM 2 Co-Chair Sen. Loren Legarda, and Commissioner Sen. Win Gatchalian, respectively. EDCOM 2 Commissioners Gatchalian and Sen. Joel Villanueva, and Sen. Pia Cayetano co-sponsored the measure. In the House of Representatives, a counterpart bill, House Bill (HB) No. 5939, authored by EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Roman Romulo, has passed third and final reading.
The DepEd, under Secretary Sonny Angara, has expressed full support for the measure
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