MANILA — Senator Bam Aquino is advocating for a measure that seeks to institutionalize a nationwide private education voucher program aimed at easing financial burdens on families and improving learning environments for students.

The proposal, Senate Bill No. 1981 or the “Private Basic Education Voucher Program Act,” aims to replace Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education by establishing a unified voucher system for basic education.

“Ang ating reporma ay tutugon sa tatlong pangunahing isyu: congestion, access, at pangatlo, pagpapatibay ng sistema laban sa corruption,” said Aquino, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, during his sponsorship speech.

The measure is designed to address classroom congestion, expand access to education, and strengthen safeguards against corruption. It also seeks to reduce the need for shifting schedules in overcrowded public schools by allowing students to transfer to private institutions with available capacity.

“Mahalaga ang programang ito dahil direktang natutulungan ang mga pamilya—lalo na ang mga nakatira na malapit sa mga pribadong paaralan, at ang mga mag-aaral na nangangailangan ng Special Education o SPED,” he added.

Under the proposed bill, vouchers will be made available to students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, consolidating existing assistance programs into a single framework. Beneficiaries will include learners from Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) households, those in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas, Indigenous Peoples communities, foster homes, and other vulnerable sectors, including students requiring special education services.

“Layunin ng panukalang batas na ito na bawasan ang pagsisiksikan sa mga pampublikong paaralan sa pamamagitan ng private education voucher. Ito po’y magbibigay-daan sa mga mag-aaral na makapag-enroll sa mga pribadong paaralan, partikular na po ang mga nagmumula sa mga paaralang kinikilala ng DepEd bilang congested or overcrowded,” he said, noting that the country currently faces a shortage of around 165,000 classrooms.

The proposal also includes provisions to support private schools and educators participating in the program through subsidies and institutional assistance.

“Nais nating bigyan ng kalayaan ang mga mag-aaral na nahihirapan sa mga pampublikong paaralang kulang sa pasilidad na pumili ng paaralang angkop sa kanilang pangangailangan. Mahalaga ang programang ito dahil direktang natutulungan ang mga pamilya—lalo na ang mga nakatira na malapit sa mga pribadong paaralan, at ang mga mag-aaral na nangangailangan ng Special Education o SPED,” he explained.

Aquino emphasized that the bill introduces stricter safeguards to prevent fraud and abuse, including penalties for violations.

“Kasama sa ating panukala ang mga probisyon para sa administrative at criminal penalties upang hadlangan ang anumang uri ng pandaraya o fraud. Titiyakin po natin na wala nang ghost students at wala nang magsasamantala sa sistema,” Aquino said.

“Sa ilalim ng panukalang ito, parurusahan ang anumang paaralang lalabag sa mga probisyon ng batas. Ang paglabag po ay may kaukulang multa o pagkabilanggo dahil ang kailangan po ng mga mag-aaral ay edukasyon at hindi korapsyon,” he added.

Aquino called on his fellow lawmakers to support the measure, saying it would help address long-standing issues in the education sector.

“Sa pamamagitan po nito, masisigurado natin na mas marami pang kabataang Pilipino ang makakapag-aral sa mga maayos na kapaligiran at makakatanggap ng dekalidad na edukasyon. Tiyakin po nating walang batang maiiwan sa ating minamahal na bayan,” he said.

The bill is co-authored by Senators Loren Legarda, Sherwin Gatchalian, Alan Peter Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Mark Villar, Kiko Pangilinan, Joel Villanueva, Raffy Tulfo, JV Ejercito, and Robin Padilla.

Meanwhile, Senators Ejercito, Gatchalian, Padilla, Legarda, Villanueva, and Estrada have expressed support as co-sponsors of the measure.