THE HOUSE of Representatives has approved on second reading two priority education measures under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) Common Legislative Agenda, aimed at expanding access to higher education and strengthening scholarship opportunities for Filipino students.

One of the measures, House Bill No. 8476, or the proposed expansion of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), seeks to broaden the college voucher program for beneficiaries of the government’s conditional cash transfer initiative.

The bill would allow students from households enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to pursue higher education in private colleges and technical-vocational institutions.

House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos of Ilocos Norte said the measure would help students from low-income families continue their academic aspirations by giving them access to private educational institutions.

Marcos also credited the leadership of House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, noting that the chamber has been moving swiftly to advance legislation aimed at easing the burden on Filipino families in areas such as education, employment, and basic household needs.

During the sponsorship of the substitute bill, Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, chairperson of the House Committee on Technical and Higher Education, said lawmakers had addressed previous implementation challenges in the TES program.

The measure also ensures that children of 4Ps beneficiaries will be prioritized in receiving the subsidy.

Meanwhile, the chamber also approved on second reading House Bill No. 8477, which seeks to establish a permanent national scholarship system for outstanding senior high school graduates.

The bill proposes the institutionalization of the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program, which will provide financial assistance to students who belong to the top one percent of their graduating senior high school class. Qualified scholars will also be granted priority access to selected degree programs identified by the Commission on Higher Education.

Marcos said institutionalizing the scholarship program would create a permanent support system for top-performing senior high school graduates, ensuring they receive financial backing and priority placement in key degree programs.

Both measures form part of the administration-backed legislative agenda aimed at improving educational access and expanding opportunities for Filipino students.