MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is pushing for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1841, or the Private Education Voucher Expansion (PEVE) Act, which seeks to provide financial assistance to private school learners from low- and middle-income households.

Filed on February 11, the measure aims to extend support to kindergarten through senior high school students who attend private institutions due to overcrowded public schools or lack of nearby public schools.

“The voucher assistance shall be provided to students from middle income families, as determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority, who attended public schools identified by the Department of Education as congested… and who wish to enroll in private basic education schools,” the bill reads.

Students deemed most vulnerable will receive higher voucher amounts, to be determined by the Basic Education Assistance Council (BEAC).

Pangilinan explained that the bill will institutionalize a Private Basic Education Voucher Program and consolidate existing assistance mechanisms into a unified voucher-based framework. Participating private schools will also receive support, including teacher development and targeted assistance.

The measure proposes the creation of a Bureau of Private Education under the Department of Education to oversee program implementation and ensure regulatory compliance. It also seeks to repeal certain provisions of Republic Act No. 8545, which amended RA No. 6728 on government assistance to private school students and teachers.

According to the bill’s explanatory note, “By strengthening public-private partnership in basic education, this bill promotes equitable access, more efficient use of public resources, and improved education outcomes.”