Philippines Ratifies Expanded Education Voucher Program Bill

The Philippine Congress on Tuesday ratified the reconciled version of the Basic Education Voucher Program bill, which expands the assistance program to include qualified students from kindergarten to Grade 6. The measure, which consolidated House Bill No. 4744 and Senate Bill No. 1981, is projected to benefit 121,035 learners and help decongest public schools. “This measure will decongest a number of our schools, students from congested public schools will be given the chance to transfer to private institutions that are not as congested, and we hope that in the end we hope that this measure provides opportunities,” said Senate Committee on Basic Education Chairperson and Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) co-Chair Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV during plenary. The expanded voucher program, among the priority bill identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, updates the 37-year-old Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act. Students from public schools declared congested by the Department of Education (DepEd) are given priority under the Voucher Program, as well as those living in areas without nearby public schools. The Basic Education Voucher Program Act also creates a Bureau of Private Education within DepEd to oversee implementation of the assistance program. It further institutionalizes the Nationwide School Congestion Mapping and Strategic Allocation Framework, which will serve as a guide for the planning and allocation of vouchers. “By making the voucher system more targeted, transparent, and responsive to where learners need it most, we are ensuring that every peso invested by government delivers greater access, better learning opportunities, and a stronger education system,” Pasig City Rep. Roman T. Romulo, EDCOM II co-chairperson and House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chairperson, told BusinessWorld via Viber chat. — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel