MANILA, Philippines — More Filipino families could soon receive government assistance for their children's private school education, with the House of Representatives proposing an additional ₱1.93 billion to extend school vouchers to learners from Kindergarten through Grade 6.

The funding was included in the House-approved version of the proposed 2027 national budget as part of efforts to improve access to basic education and ease overcrowding in public schools.

House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III announced the additional allocation alongside other education funding increases, emphasizing the need to provide students with greater opportunities to continue their education regardless of their families' financial circumstances.

How the proposed voucher expansion would work

The proposed funding would extend financial assistance to younger learners who currently fall outside the coverage of existing programs such as the Educational Service Contracting (ESC) Program and the Senior High School Voucher Program.

Under the envisioned expansion, eligible students could receive government subsidies to enroll in participating private schools instead of relying solely on public school enrollment.

The assistance is particularly intended for families in communities where public classrooms are overcrowded or where students have limited access to nearby public schools.

By using available spaces in qualified private schools, the program aims to reduce pressure on public school facilities while giving families additional educational options.

The ₱1.93-billion allocation forms part of the additional ₱10.06 billion earmarked by the House for education initiatives in its proposed 2027 budget.

Congress ratifies broader education voucher measure

The budget proposal follows another development in Congress involving legislation to expand private basic education assistance.

On September 22, the Senate and House of Representatives ratified the reconciled version of the proposed Private Basic Education Vouchers Assistance Act, combining provisions from House Bill No. 4744 and Senate Bill No. 1981.

The measure seeks to establish a more comprehensive government voucher system covering qualified learners from Kindergarten through Grade 12.

It would update the existing Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education framework and introduce changes intended to improve how financial assistance is allocated and monitored.

The proposed legislation also seeks to strengthen cooperation between public and private schools in addressing classroom shortages and improving access to basic education.

Who would receive priority?

Under the proposed voucher expansion, priority would be given to qualified learners facing limited public school access.

These include students from overcrowded public schools, families living in communities with insufficient classroom capacity, and learners in areas without a nearby public school.

The proposed system is also designed to direct greater assistance toward disadvantaged learners and ensure that participating private schools meet applicable education standards.

However, not all students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 would automatically qualify for a voucher.

Eligibility requirements, subsidy amounts, and participating schools would depend on the final legislation, available funding, and implementing guidelines.

Applications not yet open

Despite the proposed expansion, parents and guardians should be aware that the additional voucher assistance is not yet available for application.

The ₱1.93-billion allocation remains subject to the completion of the 2027 national budget process.

Likewise, although both chambers of Congress have ratified the voucher expansion bill, ratification alone does not make it an enacted law.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has yet to announce the final application procedures, eligibility requirements, participating private schools, or voucher amounts for the proposed Kinder-to-Grade 6 coverage.

Families are advised to await official announcements from DepEd before preparing applications or making enrollment decisions based on the proposed assistance.

The next steps will depend on the completion of the legislative and budget processes, followed by the issuance of implementing guidelines for the expanded voucher program.

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