A private education voucher bill based largely on Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s proposal and Taguig City’s education voucher model is up for Senate ratification on July 28, 2026.
The proposed Basic Education Voucher Program Act seeks to institutionalize a government-funded voucher program that may be used by qualified K to 12 learners to enroll in any Department of Education (DepEd)-recognized private school of their choice.
The bicameral conference committee approved the reconciled version of the measure last week, harmonizing Senate Bill No. 1981 and House Bill No. 10221.
Once ratified by both chambers, the bill will be transmitted to Malacañang for the President’s action.
The Senate version incorporated key provisions of Cayetano’s Senate Bill No. 422 or The Learner’s Choice Act of 2025, which was patterned after Taguig City’s own Taguig Learner’s Certificate (TLC) Program.
Under the measure, priority will be given to learners from congested public schools, especially those from low-income households.
The bill also covers disadvantaged learners, including out-of-school youths, learners with disabilities, orphans, Indigenous Peoples, learners in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Unlike the existing Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education program, the proposed voucher system will give learners and their families more say in choosing a school and will cover all levels from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
The measure also includes a quality assurance framework, as well as safeguards and penalties proposed by Cayetano against ghost learners, delays, and other fraudulent practices.
To help families make informed school choices, DepEd will maintain a public database of participating private schools, covering their tuition, program offerings, capacity, and key performance indicators.
Cayetano, a former co-chairperson of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), earlier said the measure would help uphold every Filipino child’s right to accessible and quality education.
“The Constitution guarantees the right of every Filipino to accessible and quality education at all levels and mandates the State to take appropriate steps to make such education available to all,” he said.
“I’d like to see the day na kapag pinanganak ka sa Pilipinas, regardless kung ano apelyido mo, kung mayaman ka o hindi, if you want to go to the best private school sa inyong province or city, you’ll have the opportunity to do that,” he added.
Taguig City model
Even before the proposed national voucher program reached Congress, Taguig City had already been implementing its own learner-centered voucher program through the TLC Program.
Recognized by the EDCOM 2 and identified by DepEd as a model program, the TLC Program supports public elementary school graduates in Taguig who want to continue their education in partner private high schools.
Under the program, qualified learners receive a P10,000 educational allowance and a tuition fee subsidy of up to P18,000.
The TLC Scholarship Program has 60 partner schools in Taguig City.
The program was developed under Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, wife of Senator Cayetano, whose administration has pursued education programs covering scholarships, early childhood care, nutrition support, school assistance, and public-private school partnerships.
Mayor Cayetano also continuously contributes to national education reform discussions as a member of EDCOM 2’s Education, Legislation and Policy Advisory Council, which brings together representatives from local government, education institutions, the private sector, and civil society.