QUEZON City 4th District Rep. Marvin Rillo said that the government has increased its subsidies for poor students to ensure that young Filipinos remain in school.

Rillo said that the government is spending P53 billion this year to shoulder the tuition of underprivileged students enrolled in private high schools either because of the lack of public schools in their communities, or because public schools are full.

The P53 billion includes P39.3 billion for the Senior High School Voucher Program, P12.5 billion for the Junior High School Educational Service Contracting Program, and P1.4 billion for the Joint Delivery Voucher Program.

“The P53 billion is nearly double the P28 billion budget for GASTPE in 2022,” he said, referring to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education.

“We, in Congress, are absolutely determined to help keep more students in school through GASTPE and other initiatives,” the lawmaker added.

The increased GASTPE funding will also help keep private high schools financially viable.

Rillo authored a bill that seeks to prohibit the no permit, no exam school policy.