The Senate has approved on third and final reading a bill creating a nationwide education voucher system that would allow eligible students from congested public schools to enroll in private institutions.
Lawmakers voted 22-0 to pass Senate Bill 1981 or the Basic Education Voucher Program Act, a measure aimed at easing overcrowding in public schools and expanding access to basic education.
Senator Bam Aquino, author and sponsor of the bill and chair of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said the program responds to key challenges in the education system, including congestion, access gaps, and accountability issues.
The proposed measure covers Kindergarten to Senior High School and is designed to address findings of the Second Congressional Commission on Education, which reported a shortage of at least 165,000 classrooms nationwide, along with overcrowding and shifting class schedules in many schools.
Aquino said the voucher system would allow students from overcrowded public schools to transfer to participating private schools.
He added that the program consolidates existing government voucher initiatives into a single system to improve efficiency and expand options for learners.
Priority beneficiaries include students from low-income families, 4Ps households, geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, Indigenous Peoples, learners with disabilities, and children under foster care.
The bill also provides support for participating private schools and teachers who will take in voucher recipients.
Aquino said the measure forms part of a broader effort to address the education crisis while complementing ongoing classroom construction programs.
He also emphasized safeguards against fraud, including penalties for violations and mechanisms to prevent ghost beneficiaries.
Under the measure, schools found violating the law may face fines or imprisonment.
The House of Representatives has already approved its counterpart version on third reading, paving the way for bicameral conference committee deliberations before final approval.
If enacted into law, the program is expected to expand access to private education while easing pressure on overcrowded public schools nationwide.
Photo courtesy of Senate of the Philippines
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