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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2640

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative WALFREDO “ARMAN” R. DIMAGUILA, JR.

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. Nearly one in three
Public schools continues to operate beyond ideal capacity, according to Department
of Education (DepEd) 2024 data, hampering learning and widening achievement gaps.
At the same time, many small and community-based private schools struggle with
dwindling enrolment and limited resources, despite their crucial role in areas
underserved by the public system.

Republic Acts Nos. 6728 and 8545 laid the groundwork for Government Assistance to
Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE). However, narrow coverage,
outdated subsidy levels, and inadequate institutional support have constrained their
impact. Recognizing these gaps, Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV filed a
Senate bill proposing the Private Education Voucher Expansion (PEVE) Act. Guided by
the spirit and substantive reforms of his measure, this counterpart House Bill seeks to
modernize government support for private basic education, empower parental choice,
and reinforce the complementary roles of public and private institutions.


The bill expands voucher coverage from kindergarten through senior high school;
creates the Bureau of Private Education (BPE) under DepEd to administer the program
and oversee quality standards; establishes a Teachers’ Salary Subsidy Fund and an
In-Service Training Fund; and streamlines program administration through the Basic
Education Assistance Council (BEAC) and a dedicated Government Assistance and
Subsidies Service. It provides an equitable, transparent framework to channel public
funds where they generate the greatest learning gains while alleviating congestion in
the public system.

Prompt enactment of this measure will widen access, elevate teaching quality, and
strengthen thousands of private schools that complement the State's duty to provide
basic education for all.

ATTY. WALFREDOR UILA, JR.
Member, Hous entatives


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2640

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative WALFREDO “ARMAN” R. DIMAGUILA, JR.

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 House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title.—This Act shall be known as the "Private Education Voucher
Expansion (PEVE) Act of 2025."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.—It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the
right of all citizens to quality education and to recognize the complementary roles of
public and private educational institutions. The State shall establish a responsive
‘system of scholarships, subsidies, and incentives for learners, teachers, and schools
in private basic education, with particular attention to the disadvantaged and to
communities without adequate public-school capacity.

SEC. 3. Coverage.—This Act shall apply to all DepEd-recognized private basic
education institutions that participate in the voucher program and other assistance
schemes established herein. Assistance shall be extended only to Filipino citizens.


SEC. 4. Private Basic Education Voucher Program.—There is hereby established a
nationwide voucher program for learners from kindergarten to Grade 12 enrolled in
participating private schools that charge tuition and other school fees. The voucher
amount, differentiated by income bracket and school location, shall be set annually by
DepEd in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and
the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and shall not be less than
the prevailing subsidy under existing GASTPE programs. DepEd shall disburse
payments to schools within sixty (60) days of submission of complete billing
documents.

SEC. 5. Eligibility and Priority —Learners from low-income households, as determined
by the Philippine Statistics Authority's official poverty thresholds and other DepEd
criteria, shall receive the highest voucher value. Learners displaced by school closures,
those residing in areas with congested or no nearby public schools, and learners with
disabilities shall likewise be accorded priority.

SEC. 6. Empowering Parental Choice.—DepEd shall maintain an online registry of
participating schools indicating their accreditation status, available slots, tuition and
other fees, and performance indicators. Parents or guardians shall be free to select
among registered schools, subject to slot availability.

SEC. 7. Quality Assurance—DepEd shall develop and enforce minimum quality
standards for participating schools, including learning outcomes, faculty qualifications,
and safe-school indicators. Standardized national assessments shall be administered
to voucher beneficiaries, and outcome data shall be published annually.

SEC. 8. Bureau of Private Education.—A Bureau of Private Education (BPE) is hereby
created under DepEd. Headed by a Director, the BPE shall administer the voucher
program; set and enforce quality standards for private basic education; provide
technical assistance and capacity-building to schools; and oversee the Government
Assistance and Subsidies Service (GAS).

SEC. 9. Basic Education Assistance Council.—The Basic Education Assistance Council
(BEAC) is institutionalized to provide policy direction, monitoring, and evaluation of
assistance programs under this Act. The BEAC shall be chaired by the Secretary of
Education, with the Secretary of NEDA and the Secretary of DBM as members. The
GASS shall serve as the Council's permanent secretariat.

SEC. 10. Teachers’ Salary Subsidy Fund.—There is hereby established a Teachers’
Salary Subsidy Fund to provide salary supplements to qualified teachers in
participating schools. The schedule and mode of disbursement shall be set in the
implementing rules and regulations (IRR), subject to periodic review by BEAC.

SEC. 11. In-Service Training Fund.—An In-Service Training (InSET) Fund is created to
finance professional development programs for teachers in private basic education,
aligned with DepEd-approved training standards.


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SEC. 12. Other Forms of Assistance.—DepEd may, in consultation with DBM, design
additional support programs for institutional development, facility improvement, digital
learning infrastructure, and student nutrition and wellness in participating private
schools.

SEC. 13. Program Administration.—DepEd may engage qualified third-party service
providers for voucher billing, validation, and disbursement, subject to government
procurement laws and data-privacy regulations.

SEC. 14. Appropriations.—The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
Act shall be charged against the current year’s DepEd appropriations. Thereafter, such
sums shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 15. Penalties.—Private schools found to have committed fraud, misuse of funds,
or material violations of program rules shall, after due process, be suspended or barred
from further participation, without prejudice to applicable civil, administrative, or
criminal liabilities.

SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations.—Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, DepEd shall, in consultation with NEDA, DBM, and national
associations of private basic education institutions, promulgate the IRR.

SEC. 17. Separability Clause.—If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 18. Repealing Clause.—Sections 2, 3, 4(2), 4(3), 5, 6, 7, 12, 14, and 15 of
Republic Act No. 8545 and all other laws or regulations inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 19. Effectivity.—This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation, notwithstanding the
non-issuance of the IRR.

Approved.