QUEZON City Rep. Marvin Rillo confirmed on Sunday (23 Mar 2025) that Congress has earmarked P40.5 billion in the 2025 national budget to cover the tuition and other fees of underprivileged students enrolled in private high schools.

This is due to the lack of Department of Education schools in their communities or overcrowding in existing public schools.

“The P40.5 billion is allocated in the 2025 national budget,” said Rillo, a member of the House committee on appropriations.

He outlined the allocation distribution: P27.02 billion for the Senior High School Voucher Program, P12.07 billion for the Junior High School Educational Service Contracting Program, and P1.41 billion for the Joint Delivery Voucher Program.

“We remain committed to ensuring more students stay in school by providing government subsidies, especially for learners from low-income families,” Rillo said.

“The tuition subsidies will not only benefit students but also help sustain the financial viability of private high schools, many of which have struggled financially in recent years,” he added.

The SHSVP provides tuition support for grantees enrolling in private senior high schools authorized by the DepEd.

The JHSESCP allows grantees to enroll in contracted private junior high schools.

The JDVP enables senior high school students pursuing the technical-vocational-livelihood track to take their subjects in private or non-DepEd institutions.