SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go welcomed the Senate’s approval on third reading of Senate Bill No. 1981, or the proposed Basic Education Voucher Program Act, which seeks to institutionalize a voucher system for qualified learners from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

The measure, co-authored by Go, was approved on May 4 as the Senate also advanced another education-related proposal backed by the senator — Senate Bill No. 1894, or the proposed Enhancing Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act — which passed on second reading on the same day.

Go, who authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill No. 1894, said the two measures aim to strengthen government support for Filipino students from basic education to college and technical-vocational education.

“Para sa akin, dapat tuluy-tuloy ang suporta natin sa edukasyon. Maraming pamilyang Pilipino ang hirap sa gastusin sa pag-aaral ng kanilang mga anak, kaya kung may paraan para matulungan sila, dapat gawin natin,” Go said.

Under the proposed Basic Education Voucher Program Act, priority beneficiaries would include learners from overcrowded public schools, low-income households, and disadvantaged sectors.

Students from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), Indigenous Peoples communities, and families enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) may also qualify for educational assistance under the measure.

The bill aims to help address congestion in public schools by allowing eligible students to enroll in accredited private schools through a voucher system.

“Ang importante dito, mabigyan natin ng dagdag na opsyon ang mga magulang at estudyante, lalo na kung puno na ang mga pampublikong paaralan sa kanilang lugar. Dapat hindi maputol ang pag-aaral ng bata dahil kulang ang espasyo o dahil kapos ang pamilya,” Go added.

The proposed measure also provides higher voucher amounts for students from disadvantaged sectors and low-income families.

Alternative Learning System (ALS) completers and learners living in remote areas without access to public schools may likewise qualify as automatic voucher recipients, subject to the provisions of the bill.

Go emphasized the need for proper implementation and accountability to ensure that government education assistance reaches deserving beneficiaries.

“Dapat malinaw ang proseso at siguraduhin nating ang tulong ay mapupunta sa mga batang tunay na nangangailangan. Pondo ito ng taumbayan, kaya dapat maayos, patas, at responsable ang pagpapatupad,” he said.