SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a bill to incentivize private sector assistance in developing, modernizing, and upgrading the country’s public education system.

The Adopt-a-School Act of 2024, or Senate Bill No. 2371, amends the Adopt-a-School Act of 1998 (Republic Act No. 8525) to strengthen partnerships between educational institutions and industries, particularly in employing and training senior high school graduates.

Gatchalian filed the bill alongside former senator and now Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara.

“Sa pag-angat natin sa kalidad ng edukasyon ng bansa, mahalagang katuwang natin ang pribadong sektor. Kasama ang ating Kalihim ng Edukasyon, isinusulong nating palawakin at patatagin ang Adopt-a-School program upang mahikayat ang pribadong sektor na tulungan ang ating mga pampublikong paaralan,” said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

To encourage private sector involvement in public education, the proposed measure seeks an additional deduction of 50% of labor training expenses incurred for teachers’ scholarships and the skills development of enterprise-based trainees, as provided under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE Law).

Another incentive is a 20% additional deduction on salaries paid to senior high school graduates employed by participating companies.

Donations made to public schools under the Adopt-a-School Program will also be exempt from customs duties, value-added tax, excise tax, donor’s tax, and other fees.

The proposed measure allows Filipino and foreign individuals or entities to assist public early childhood, elementary, secondary, technical-vocational, Alternative Learning System, and higher education institutions. Priority will be given to schools in fourth- and fifth-class municipalities and local government units with severe shortages, insufficient budgets, and a large number of poor but high-performing students.

Participants in the Adopt-a-School program can contribute through training and development for teachers and school heads, scholarships, construction of school facilities like libraries and laboratories, school supplies, technical-vocational tools and equipment, health and nutrition packages, and assistive devices for learners with disabilities, among others.