STUDENT FIRST COALITION ENDORSES LEARNER’S CHOICE BILL
/ 24 January 2026
THE STUDENT First Coalition has formally endorsed Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s proposed Learner’s Choice in Private Basic Education Act of 2025, citing its potential to ease school congestion and expand access to quality education for low-income families.
In a letter sent to the Senate Committee on Basic Education, the coalition urged the immediate passage of the measure, saying it would address overcrowding in public schools by expanding private school options for students.
“We appreciate the provision by Sen. Alan Cayetano, which prioritizes learners who are enrolled in or transferring from public basic education schools officially identified by the DepEd as congested as the first and second priority for voucher allocations,” Student First Coalition Convenor Assistant Professor Luigie Almojano said.
Cayetano’s proposal, filed as Senate Bill No. 422, seeks to replace existing education support mechanisms, including the Educational Service Contracting program under the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education.
Under the bill, Cayetano proposes a single, portable voucher system for K–12 students, allowing families to directly use government subsidies to enroll in any Department of Education-recognized private school of their choice.
The model draws inspiration from the City of Taguig’s local voucher program, which was cited as effective in a study by the Second Congressional Commission on Education.
The TLC voucher adopts a tiered priority system aimed at ensuring equity.
It prioritizes students from low-income families enrolled in congested public schools, followed by learners from poor households who are not in congested schools but still require financial assistance. Completers of the Alternative Learning System are also eligible under the program.
Cayetano said the prioritization mechanism is designed to ensure equity and social justice by directing assistance to the most underprivileged learners.
To promote transparency and accountability, the bill mandates the DepEd to publish a database detailing the fees and performance records of participating private schools.
The measure also strengthens support for private school teachers by providing improved salary subsidies and allocating funds for professional training.
Oversight of the new voucher system will be handled by a proposed Bureau of Private Education within the DepEd, with safeguards from the Commission on Audit.
The bill also encourages local government units to align their scholarship programs with the national portable voucher system.
