TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 J'JL-3 P6:10
SENATE
s. No. 128
Introduced by Senator Paoto Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PRIVATE BASIC EDUCATION VOUCHER PROGRAM,
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF THE BUREAU OF PRIVATE 
EDUCATION, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, REPEALING FOR 
THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 2, 3,4(2), 4(3), 5,6, 7,12,14, AND 15 OF 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8545, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "EXPANDED 
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN PRIVATE
EDUCATION ACT", WHICH AMENDED REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6728, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS 
AND TEACHERS IN PRIVATE EDUCATION ACT"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Access to quality basic education remains a persistent challenge in the 
Philippines. Many public schools continue to face issues such as overcrowding, limited 
facilities, and resource constraints, all of which affect teaching quality and student 
learning outcomes. According to the Department of Education, nearly one in three 
public schools operate above ideal capacity, limiting their ability to provide effective 
instruction.
At the same time, numerous private schools, especially small and community- 
based institutions, are experiencing declining enrollment and financial strain. These 
schools play a vital role in the education system, particularly in areas underserved by 
the public sector. However, without sufficient support, many are unable to sustain 
operations or invest in quality improvements.
Republic Act No. 6728, as amended by Republic Act. No. 8545 or the Expanded 
Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE) 
Act, provided a foundation for government support to private basic education. 
However, its implementation has been constrained by narrow coverage, outdated 
mechanisms, and limited institutional support for private schools and their teachers.
This bill, the Private Education Voucher Expansion (PEVE) Act, seeks to 
modernize and strengthen the government's support for private basic education by


repealing outdated provisions of RA 8545 and establishing a more inclusive, 
responsive, and accountable framework.
Key reforms introduced by this measure include:
• Expanded Coverage; The bill broadens the reach of the voucher program to 
cover learners from kindergarten through senior high school, ensuring access 
to quality private education throughout all stages of basic education.
• Empowered Parental Choice: Eligible students and their parents win be able to 
choose from a registry of DepEd-recognized private schools, subject to 
available slots. This promotes a learner-centered approach and empowers 
families to select schools that best meet their needs.
• Institutional Support for Private Schools: In recognition of the complementary 
role of private institutions, the bill introduces additional forms of government 
assistance, including In-service training funds and a Teachers' Salary Subsidy 
Fund, to help improve teaching quality and attract qualified educators.
• Creation of the Bureau of Private Education (BPE); The bill establishes the BPE 
under the Department of Education to administer the voucher program, 
regulate private basic education institutions, enforce quality standards, and 
provide technical and developmental support to private schools participating in 
the program.
Through these reforms, the bill strengthens the government's commitment to 
a balanced and inclusive education system. It builds on the original objectives of 
GASTPE but goes further by responding to the realities of today's education 
challenges, including inequality In access, and a need for greater flexibility and 
innovation.
The measure reinforces the complementary roles of public and private 
educational institutions, ensuring that both sectors are equipped to contribute to 
national education goals. By promoting access, equity, and quality across the basic 
education system, the bill expands opportunities for learners, eases pressure on public 
schools, and supports the sustainability and continuous improvement of private basic 
education.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.


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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
2b j!JL -3
*6 :10
SENATE
s. No. 128
Introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PRIVATE BASIC EDUCATION VOUCHER PROGRAM, 
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF THE BUREAU OF PRIVATE 
EDUCATION, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, REPEALING FOR 
THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 2, 3, 4(2), 4(3), 5, 6, 7,12,14, AND 15 OF 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8545, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "EXPANDED 
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN PRIVATE 
EDUCATION ACT", WHICH AMENDED REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6728, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS 
AND TEACHERS IN PRIVATE EDUCATION ACT"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short We. - This Act shall be known as the "Private Education 
Voucher Expansion (PEVE) Act".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to protect 
and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take 
appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. As part of its mandate, it 
is the State's policy to establish and maintain a system of scholarship grants, subsidies, 
and other incentives which shall be available to deserving students, as determined by 
the guidelines, in both public and private schools, especially to the underprivileged. 
Likewise, the State recognizes the complementary roles of public and private 
educational institutions in the educational system and the invaluable contribution that 
the private schools have made and will make to education.


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The State shall provide the mechanisms to augment the resources and enhance the
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quality of private basic education, specifically promoting the complementary roles of
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public and private schools and thus recognize the government's priority of providing
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basic elementary and secondary education to all Filipino students.
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Sec. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all private basic education institutions
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that receive government assistance in the form of vouchers for qualified students,
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teachers and schools. This covers all the years of basic education. The programs of
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assistance for students under this Act shall be extended only to citizens of the
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Philippines.
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Sec. 4. Criteria for Voucher Assistance. - The programs for voucher assistance
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shall be based on a set of criteria which include among others, the following:
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(a) Criteria for Students. - The voucher assistance will be provided to students from
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middle-income families, as determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA),
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who attended public schools identified by the Department of Education as congested
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or those living in areas with congested public schools or without a nearby public school
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who wish to enroll in private basic education schools.
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Students who are most vulnerable and underprivileged shall receive a higher voucher
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amount as determined by the Basic Education Assistance Council (BEAC).
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(b) Criteria for Schools. - The participating private basic education schools shall
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receive assistance based on Quality Assurance under Section 6 of this Act, and the
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geographic spread and size of student enrollment, as likewise determined by the
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BEAC, except schools with gaps in resources and facilities which are located in
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geographically isolated and disadvantaged and conflict-affected areas, or GIDCA
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schools. Private schools shall undergo the process of recognition and periodic
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assessment to be able to participate in the programs for voucher assistance.


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Sec. 5. Empowering Student Choice. - The Department of Education (DepEd)
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shall create a system that allows students and parents to select their preferred schools
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from a registry of participating recognized schools, subject to availability of slots.
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The registry of participating recognized private basic educational institutions shall
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include their schools' information, such as location, number of available slots, number
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of students per classroom and level, extra-curricular programs, current tuition fees,
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and top-up required in cases where the voucher amount is less than the tuition fee,
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among others.
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Sec. 6. Quality Assurance. - The DepEd shall establish, operate and maintain a
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system and mechanism for monitoring program outcomes to ensure accountability of
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participating recognized private basic educational institutions. This covers the
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following areas:
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(a) Improved Student Performance - Appropriate performance indicators to determine
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the extent and outcome of the government assistance and subsidies (GAS) programs
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including youth literacy rates, national and international assessment scores, among
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others. For this purpose, the National Achievement Tests and all national assessment
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examinations generally given by the DepEd shall be administered to all eligible
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students in all participating private basic education institutions;
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(b) Improved Student Outcomes - Tracer system to collect and evaluate the career
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and employment path of its graduates;
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(c) School Performance - School performance data indicating the mean, median and
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mode of the scores of the students in the national examinations, and such other
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measures of quality education delivery; and
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(d) Priority Subsidy for Underprivileged Students - Distribution of the GAS programs
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while ensuring that funding is equitably allocated following the order of priority groups.
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Sec. 7. Other Forms of Assistance. - The following shall consist of assistance 
21 to private basic education institutions and teachers participating in the voucher 
28 program under this Act:


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The forms of assistance granted to teachers in the participating recognized private
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basic education schools include:
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(a) In-service training fund for teachers in private basic education schools;
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(b) Scholarships for qualified private basic education teachers enrolled in quality
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graduate programs; and
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(c) Participation in government-funded in-service training for basic education teachers.
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The DepEd may establish a program of assistance for the development of qualified
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recognized private basic education schools to cover the following areas of school
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operation:
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(a) Institutional Development;
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(b) Organizational Development;
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(c) Human Resource Development;
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(d) Curriculum and Instructional Development;
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(e) Research and Planning; and
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(f) Facilities and School Improvement.
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Consistent with Section 10 of Republic Act No. 10533, or the "Enhanced Basic
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Education Act of 2013", the DepEd, in consultation with the Department of Budget
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and Management (DBM), may develop other forms of financial arrangements and
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engage the services of private basic education schools based on the complementary
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roles of public and private institutions in the educational system.
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Sec. 8. Basic Education Voucher Program. - Under the basic education voucher
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program, kindergarten, elementary, and secondary students enrolled in recognized
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private basic education schools charging school fees shall be provided by the
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government with vouchers in such amount as may be determined by the DepEd:
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Provided, that the amount shall not be less than the amount currently provided by the
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DepEd: Provided, further, that the government shall disburse payment of the vouchers


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to the schools concerned within sixty (60) days from the submission of complete
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documents to the DepEd.
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The budget for the basic education voucher program shall be equitably allocated and
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distributed among all regions including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim
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Mindanao (BARMM) based on official data sources including, but not limited to,
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congestion data and open seats, giving priority to underprivileged students.
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Pursuant to Section 2(V), Article V of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the Bangsamoro
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Government shall exercise its authority over education for the areas under the BARMM
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and will directly implement the same program to be charged against their block grant.
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The DepEd shall provide technical assistance in the implementation of the GAS
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programs, when necessary.
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Schools participating in the basic education voucher program may increase tuition on
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the condition that seventy percent (70%) of the amount of the tuition increases shall
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go to the payment of salaries, wages, allowances, and other statutory benefits of
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teaching and non-teaching personnel, except administrators who are principal
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stockholders of the school, and may be used to cover salary increase as provided for
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in the collective bargaining agreements existing or in force at the time when this Act
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is approved and made effective. At least twenty percent (20%) of the tuition increases
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shall go to the improvement or modernization of buildings, equipment, libraries,
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laboratories, gymnasia and similar facilities and to the payment of other costs of
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operation. For this purpose, schools shall maintain a separate record of accounts for
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all assistance received from the government, any tuition increase, and the detailed
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disposition and use thereof, which record shall be made available for periodic
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inspection as may be determined by the DepEd.
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Sec. 9. In - Service Training Fund or Inset Fund. - For the purpose of improving
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the quality of teaching in private basic education, there is hereby established in the
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DepEd an Inset Fund to provide for training programs for the upgrading of knowledge
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and teaching competencies in critical subject areas and for the modernization of


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teaching techniques and strategies, including training on the use of computers and of
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other multi-media educational technologies to assist instruction: Provided, that the
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amount of Inset Fund available to private basic education shall not exceed that
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available to public basic education as per capita basis: Provided, further. That the
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training programs shall be approved by the DepEd.
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Sec. 10. Teachers' Salary Subsidy Fund. - A Teachers' Salary Subsidy Fund is
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hereby established in the DepEd to grant government subsidy to teachers in
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recognized private basic education schools participating in the programs of assistance
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under in this Act: Provided, that the government shall provide the teachers with salary
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subsidy, to be determined by the DepEd: Provided, further. That the government shall
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disburse payment within sixty (60) days after the close of the school year upon
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submission of complete documents, including but not limited to qualification and
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actual teaching service, to the DepEd: Provided, furthermore. That the present
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allocation out of increases from tuition and other income shall be maintained:
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Provided, finally. That the teacher's salary subsidy received by the teacher shall form
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part of the exclusions from taxable gross income in accordance with Section
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32(B)(7)(e) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.
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Sec. 11. Creation of the Bureau of Private Education. - The Bureau of Private
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Education (BPE) under the DepEd shall be created to serve as the focal office for the
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administration, supervision, and regulation of all matters relating to private basic
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education institutions, including government assistance and subsidies. It shall be
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headed by a Bureau Director. It shall have the following powers and functions:
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(a) Monitor and assess the implementation of the private basic education institutions
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of the policies, plans, and programs established by the DepEd as recommended by
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BPE;
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(b) Set and enforce minimum standards for programs and institutions of learning,
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subject to public hearing;
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(c) Ensure that the activities, efforts, and performance of private basic education
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institutions shall meet the high standards of excellence and accountability;


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(d) Administer and implement the policies and programs related to the assistance and
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subsidies given by the government to students, teachers, and schools in private
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education;
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(e) Establish and support partnerships with individual private education institutions to
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respond effectively to the pressing needs of students and teachers, and to provide
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learning solutions to underserved communities;
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(f) Monitor and ensure compliance of private basic education institutions to the
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promulgated rules and regulations of the DepEd in all matters concerning private
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schools, including tuition fee increases; and
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(g) Such other powers and functions as may be necessary for the effective and
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efficient implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 12. Program Administration and Impiementation. - The BEAC shall be
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responsible for policy guidance and direction, monitoring and evaluation of new and
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existing programs while the Government Assistance and Subsidies Service (GASS)
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under the BPE shall be responsible for the day-to-day administration and
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implementation of the programs of assistance to private basic education.
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The BEAC shall be composed of the Secretary of the DepEd, as Chairperson, and the
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Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the
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Secretary of the DBM, as members.
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The alternate representative of the Chairperson shall possess the rank of an
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Undersecretary while the alternate representatives of the members shall possess the
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rank of not less than an Assistant Secretary in order to secure a quorum.
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The BEAC shall meet, from time to time, as the need arises, to assess the effectivity
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of the programs under this Act and to propose to Congress other forms of assistance
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to participating students and schools.
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The GASS shall serve as the permanent secretariat for the implementation of the GAS
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programs under this Act.


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The DepEd may engage the services of a third party co-implementor of the GAS
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programs under this Act.
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Sec. 13. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation
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of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the DepEd.
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Thereafter, such amount shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 14. Penaities. - In case of violation of this Act by a private school, the
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DepEd may bar, after due process, such school from participating in or benefiting from
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the programs of this Act, and from other programs of the DepEd, without prejudice to
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administrative and criminal charges that may be filed against the school or its
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responsible officers under existing laws.
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Sec. 15. Transitory Provision. - Subject to the availability of funds, the
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implementation of the provisions stipulated in this Act for the kindergarten and
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elementary levels shall gradually commence in school year 2026-2027, as may be
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determined by the DepEd.
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Sec. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
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the approval of this Act, the DepEd shall, in consultation with the NEDA, the DBM, and
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other concerned stakeholders from the national associations of private basic education
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institutions, promulgate the rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this
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Act.
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Sec. 17. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in full force and
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effect.
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Sec. 18. Repealing Clause. - Sections 2, 3, 4(2), 4(3), 5, 6, 7, 12, 14, and 15
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of Republic Act No. 8545, or the "Expanded Government Assistance to Students and
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Teachers in Private Education Act", which amended Republic Act No. 6728, or the
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"Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act", are


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hereby repealed. All other laws, decrees, orders and rules and regulations contrary to
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or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended
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accordingly.
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Sec. 19. Effectivity. - Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the implementing
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rules and regulations, this Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
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the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,