SENATOR Joel Villanueva is pushing for a measure to further strengthen incentives for private sector participation in public educational institutions.

Villanueva’s Senate Bill 2852 seeks to amend Republic Act 8525, or the Adopt-A-School Act of 1998.

The senator highlighted the challenges faced by the Philippine education sector, such as a lack of resources, infrastructure, post-pandemic recovery, access to basic amenities, and the digital divide.

“With the wide array of hurdles affecting the education sector, and given that these have both direct and indirect impacts on learners, it is essential to promote a whole-of-nation approach to improving access and quality of education,” Villanueva said in his explanatory note.

The Adopt-A-School Act of 1998 encourages private initiatives to support the upgrading and modernization of public schools in the country.

According to data from the Adopt-A-School Program Secretariat, the Second Congressional Commission on Education reported that there were 476 tax endorsements processed since 2018, with at least P413.4 million in tax claims processed in 2023, covering projects such as equipment and supplies provision, classroom construction, and renovation works.

However, Villanueva noted that consultations conducted by EDCOM2 showed that private entities have voluntarily provided assistance to public schools, even without tax incentives.

The proposed measure aims to enhance the existing Adopt-A-School Act by expanding the ways the private sector can support public schools. This includes training and development of teaching staff, daycare and child development workers, vocational trainers, scholarships, assessments for relevant certifications, school facilities upgrades, and the provision of instructional materials.

Additionally, the measure introduces a tax deduction for private companies hiring Senior High School graduates from their partner public schools.

The bill also proposes an expansion of the Adopt-A-School Coordinating Council to include representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and a representative from a reputable business group.