Sen. Edgardo J. Angara, chairman of the Senate Education Committee and vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said a Filipino must be academically competitive to work without restrictions or enroll in the schools of the nine other countries comprising the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the near future.
Angara stressed that by 2015, competition is not just among Filipinos but with the citizens of the nine other member countries of ASEAN. He said shifting to K to12 which adds two years to basic education, will result in very drastic change in the curriculum and school cycle.
Angara added that the Philippines with nine other countries of ASEAN will become one community. This would mean a Filipino can work without work permit anywhere in the ASEAN countries, and there will be a free exchange of people and goods across boundaries of the ASEAN.
As to budget, Angara said that the program will cost an additional P200 billion to the annual budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) starting in 2016 and onwards.
For his part, Sen. Ralph G. Recto, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee said an equal P200 billion was estimated to be spent by parents of pupils and students on books and allowances, among others.
