TACLOBAN CITY — Citing education as a key pathway out of poverty, Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre has called on the Senate to fast-track the passage of a House-approved measure that would allow more students from poor and middle-income families to enroll in private schools through government support.
Acidre urged senators to prioritize House Bill (HB) No. 4744, principally authored by former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, which seeks to expand access to quality basic education via a government-funded private education voucher program.
“I appeal to our counterparts in the Senate to give priority to this measure so that more deserving children from financially distressed families can enroll in private schools,” Acidre said. He stressed that education empowers families to break the cycle of poverty and contribute positively to their communities.
HB 4744 was approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading in October and was subsequently transmitted to the Senate.
The measure is among the priority bills of the Marcos administration under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
The bill amends Republic Act No. 6728, or the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, by expanding financial aid coverage from kindergarten to senior high school. It proposes a voucher system for students from middle-income families and below, as identified by the Philippine Statistics Authority, particularly those coming from congested public schools or areas without nearby public schools.
Under the proposal, students from the most vulnerable and underprivileged sectors may receive higher assistance, with definitions and guidelines to be set by the Department of Education (DepEd). Participating private schools will be selected by DepEd, while parents and students may choose from an approved list, subject to slot availability.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
