EdAngara.com - The Official Website of Senator Edgardo J. Angara

by Senator Edgardo J. Angara
Published on April 7, 2013, Manila Bulletin


Millions of Filipino students graduating this summer are all expectant of a bright future. Those finishing elementary, totaling 1.85 million from the public school system alone, are looking forward to making the big leap to high school.

Those finishing high school, about 1.17 million from public institutions and more from private ones, hope to continue their post-secondary education. The more than half a million young adults graduating from college are the most hopeful—of finding gainful employment, starting a career, and helping their families.

by Senator Edgardo J. Angara
Published on April 2, 2013, Business Mirror


In finally receiving its first ever investment grade credit rating, the Philippines has proven that it no longer is the perennial sick man of Asia.

Fitch Ratings credited us for a resilient economy, solid fiscal position, sound monetary policy, and strong external balance sheet. Upgrades from Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service are expected to follow suit soon. When that happens, the country shall have received its biggest vote of confidence in decades.

by Senator Edgardo J. Angara
Published on March 31, 2013, Manila Bulletin


The ascent of Pope Francis to the papacy before the Holy Week has been providential. His humble ways and people-centered approach are inspiring deep reflection—and possibly profound change—among the 1.2 billion Catholics around the world during this holiest of times.

by Senator Edgardo J. Angara
Published on March 26, 2013, Business Mirror


The unfortunate demise of UP Manila student Kristel Tejada looms large in our minds, especially parents’, as enrollment for another school year approaches. There is no bigger wake-up call for us to urgently reevaluate public investment in education and find ways to augment it.

I have proposed the creation of a legacy fund for education derived mainly from revenues generated by government from the exploitation and development of the country’s natural resources.

by Senator Edgardo J. Angara
Published on March 24, 2013, Manila Bulletin


Enrollment looms large in the minds of many parents especially following the tragic death of UP Manila student Kristel Tejada. There is no bigger wake-up call for us to reevaluate our national investment in education and find ways to augment it fast.

I propose that government should establish a legacy fund for education out of the revenues derived from the exploitation of natural resources. Consider this: our government’s share in the Malampaya natural gas project amounted to half a trillion pesos for the past 11 years, averaging $1 billion a year. The next 13 years left to the Malampaya project will further yield P580 billion in revenues for government.

No less than the largest umbrella organization of private schools in the country has unanimously endorsed the creation of a legacy fund for education proposed by Senator Edgardo J. Angara.

During a testimonial dinner held for Angara recently, the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) vowed to rally behind the proposal, as they have done for many of the reforms in education initiated by the senator.

Photo 1:

A testimonial dinner, hosted by the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) was held Monday night to honor Senator Edgardo J. Angara's lifelong commitment to education.

Photo 2:

Members of COCOPEA welcome Senator Edgardo J. Angara to their testimonial dinner held earlier this week in Makati.

L-R: Dr. Jose Paulo E. Campos, COCOPEA Chair and PAPSCU President; Dr. Patricia Bustos-Lagunda, PACU President; Fr. Gregorio L. Bañaga Jr., CM, CEAP President, Senator Edgardo J. Angara and Col. Alejandro T. Escaño, TEVSAPHIL President.

Two major sectoral groups have recognized Senator Edgardo J. Angara for his unparalleled contributions toward promoting science and technology as a major component of the country's national agenda.

In separate occasions, the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (CanCham) accorded Angara with the highest individual honor.

In the light of the tragic death of UP Manila student Kristel Tejada, Senator Edgardo J. Angara called on government to tap establish a legacy fund for education out of the revenues derived from the exploitation of the country’s natural resources.

Angara explained that such legacy fund is a more durable and sustainable way of financing the country’s education needs compared to leaving it wholly up to annual Congressional appropriations.

“I call this a legacy fund because legacy means securing the future, and the future is our children,” he said.

by Senator Edgardo J. Angara
Published on March 12, 2013, Business Mirror


The Philippines has been tagged a rising star in the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013 for being the most improved country in the whole of Asia Pacific. We now rank 82nd out of 140 countries, up 12 notches from two years ago on the back of price competitiveneness, government prioritization of travel and tourism, abundance of natural resources, and an improving policy environment. In Asia Pacific, we placed 16th among 25 countries.