An analysis of World Bank data indicates that college attainment in the Philippines has declined since reaching a high in 2019. By 2022, only 20.15% of women and 15.94% of men aged 25 and older had completed higher education. Dr. Alicor Panao, an associate professor at the University of the Philippines, noted that this persistent gender gap is linked to social and economic expectations, with women often encouraged to pursue education for better job security. In contrast, men are more likely to join the workforce earlier, particularly in lower-income households. The decline in educational attainment is concerning, as female college completion dropped from 27.01% in 2019. Panao urges Congress to focus on policies that enhance access to tertiary education rather than getting sidetracked by political distractions. Comparatively, countries like Thailand show women outperforming men in higher education, while Indonesia has nearly equal attainment rates.