Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by ​
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE​
Education plays a critical role in nation building. It helps our people gain knowledge as they 
become active citizens of our country contributing to its growth and development.​
As mandated by the Constitution, the State shall promote and make quality education accessible 
to all Filipino citizens. With the enactment of Republic Act No. 10533, the Philippine basic 
education was lengthened from ten to thirteen years. The Department of Education (Dep-Ed) 
then developed the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP) aimed to provide financial 
assistance in form of vouchers to qualified senior high school students. Such voucher program 
was made available only to students enrolled into private educational institutions and would only 
cover the tuition fees.​
According to the Dep-Ed's report for School Year 2020-2021, there are at least 3.2 million 
enrolled students in public and private SHS education institutions. Approximately 1.189 million 
were enrolled in private schools, 1.987 million students were enrolled in public schools, while 
around fifty-eight thousand two hundred (58,200) were enrolled in SUC and Local University.1​
Secondary education is a crucial part in the educational life of our young constituents wherein it 
is the stage in which a child will figure out what career path he or she will be taking going 
forward. Likewise, accomplishing the senior high school level will enable our students to acquire 
the necessary skills wherein they may complement our labor force in case they may decide to 
1 Historical Enrollment Senior High School (Public, Private and SUCsLUCs) SY 2010-2011 to 2020-2021 
https://www.deped.gov.ph/alternative-learning-system/resources/facts-and-figures/datasets/ 
August 27, 2025
10:06 am
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work and not pursue tertiary education due to a lot of factors.​
Such is envisioned when Republic Act No. 10533 also known as the Enhance Basic Education 
Act of 2013 or the K to 12 Law, was enacted. The said law received mixed responses iun its 
implementation - primarily, because the extension of the years in basic education would entail 
additional cost to families. While the Dep-Ed's effort to augment the cost of additional years of 
schooling for our young generation, it is only reserved for students enrolled in private schools 
and does not cover the cost of food, transportation and lodging, if necessary. 
In our government's effort to ensure that its citizens have greater access to education, there is still 
a gap which may discourage our young generation and their families to continue pursuing their 
dreams of finishing their education and be part of our community as effective and active citizens 
contributing to our progress and nation-building. Unlike the various scholarships and grant-in-aid 
programs the State has provided for students in tertiary education which also cover the cost of 
living allowance, there is still a need to provide further assistance to our students in the senior 
high school level to augment the cost of additional two years of education level, especially now 
that the prices of basic commodities and cost of transportation is on the rise, notwithstanding the 
economic difficulties brought about by the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic and other global 
factors. This bill seeks to provide our students enrolled in senior high school with additional 
assistance from the government regardless of their families' financial standing. Like the 
Universal Healthcare Law, this measure aims to lessen the out-of-pocket expenses of families 
while ensuring that their children will have greater access to education. Lastly, if enacted into a 
law, it shall help encourage our young generation and their families to continue their education 
and bridge the gap between secondary and tertiary education. ​
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by  
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
AN ACT GRANTING UNIVERSAL EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL SENIOR HIGH 
SCHOOL, TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Universal Educational Assistance 
to Senior High School Students Act.” 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – Article XIV, Section 1 of the Constitution guarantees the 
right of every Filipino to accessible and quality basic education. The Constitution further 
mandates the State to establish a system of, among others, subsidies, and incentives to 
deserving individuals in both public and private schools (Article XIV, Section 2.3). 
Section 2 of Republic Act No. 10533 also known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 
2013 states that the State shall establish a complete, adequate, and integrated system of 
education relevant to the needs of the people, the country and society-at-large. 
The State shall recognize the right of its citizens to quality education and its corresponding 
obligation to provide students with utmost assistance to complete their education. 
Therefore, the State shall undertake steps to extend financial assistance to all Senior High 
School students regardless of their families’ financial capabilities. 
Section 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
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a)​ Universal Educational Assistance for Senior High School refers to the assistance 
the government shall provide that may be used for necessary expenses for food, 
transportation and lodging that Senior High School, students incur while 
studying. 
 
b)​ Senior High School (SHS) Students refers to those enrolled in Grade 11 or Grade 
12 whether in public or private institutions. 
c)​ Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP) refers to the voucher program the 
Department of Education (Dep-Ed) developed wherein subsidies in a form of 
vouchers are provided to qualified Senior High School learners enrolled in 
SHS-VP participating Senior High Schools. 
 
Section 4. Universal Educational Assistance for Senior High School. All Filipino Senior 
High School enrolled in senior high school educational institution in the Philippines shall 
receive in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00) as educational assistance 
from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), who shall be the primary 
implementor of the program. The assistance shall be divided into two (2) tranches in every 
school year. 
 
Section 5. Eligibility for Universal Educational Assistance. – 
 
a)​
Learners who completed Junior High School in public high schools operated by 
Dep-Ed, including private educational institutions with a permit or granted with 
government recognition to operate and enrolled for Senior High School level; 
b)​
Learners who completed Grade 10 as passers of the Alternative Learning System 
Accreditation and Equivalency (ALS A&E) and enrolled for Senior High School level; and 
c)​
Passers of the Presentation Portfolio Assessment, and of the Philippine Education 
Placement Test (PEPT) enrolled for Senior High School level. 
 
Senior High School Students are entitled to receive the benefits of this Act for a maximum 
period of two (2) years. 
 
Section 6. Implementation. – The DSWD, in coordination with the Dep-Ed, shall formulate 
the implementing rules and regulations of this Act. The DSWD shall coordinate with the 
Dep-Ed in verifying and validating the documents that will be submitted by the beneficiary 
and shall maintain a database of enrolled students under the jurisdiction of their respective 
regional offices. 


 
Section 7. Penalties. – The following acts shall be punished by: 
 
a)​
Prision correccional or imprisonment ranging from six (6) months and 1 day to six 
(6) years and a fine of Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos (Php 25,000.00) for parents who 
availed of the program for their child using falsified documents; 
 
b)​
Prision correccional or imprisonment ranging from six (6) months and 1 day to six 
(6) years and a fine of Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos (Php 25,000.00) for public officers and 
employees who committed acts of falsification defined under the Revised Penal Code of the 
Philippines in order to include beneficiaries disqualified from the provisions of this Act, 
without prejudice to other administrative charges as may be filed against such persons. 
 
Section 8. Appropriations – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act 
shall be included in the budget of concerned government agencies in the General 
Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter. 
 
Section 9. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders, administrative orders or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or 
modified accordingly 
 
Section 10. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
effect. 
 
Section 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,