TACLOBAN CITY – Congress has ratified a measure expanding government voucher assistance for basic education, a move that Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said could help ease overcrowding in public schools by allowing qualified learners to use available spaces in private schools.
Acidre, chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education and one of the principal authors of House Bill No. 4744, welcomed the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report reconciling the House and Senate versions of the measure.
The reconciled bill seeks to establish a Private Basic Education Voucher Program and expand assistance to qualified learners, particularly those in areas where public schools are congested or where access to public schools is limited. It also provides for the creation of a Bureau of Private Education within the Department of Education.
“If a public school is already overcrowded, but there is an available seat in a nearby private school, government should be able to help that learner make use of that opportunity,” Acidre said.
The measure prioritizes learners in congested public schools, those living in areas without nearby public schools, and those in communities served by overcrowded schools. Poor and low-income learners may also qualify for higher voucher assistance.
The bill also directs DepEd to establish a nationwide school congestion mapping and strategic allocation framework to identify areas with severe classroom shortages and available private school capacity.
Acidre said the voucher program would complement, rather than replace, government efforts to build additional public school classrooms.
“Hindi nito pinapalitan ang responsibilidad nating magtayo at mag-ayos ng mga classroom. We have to continue investing in our public schools,” he said.
The House earlier noted that HB 4744 was filed in September 2025 and approved on third reading in October of the same year. The House agreed to the bicameral conference committee report on Sept. 22, 2026.
(JOEY A. GABIETA, LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
