THE House of Representatives recently approved on third and final reading two landmark education reform measures-House Bill 4744, or the Private Basic Education Vouchers Assistance Act, and House Bill 4745, or the Last Mile Schools Act.
The Private Basic Education Vouchers Assistance Act, a priority measure under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) Common Legislative Agenda, institutionalized a national voucher program to help families afford private schooling. It also creates the Bureau of Private Education under the Department of Education (DepEd) to oversee and enhance assistance programs for students, teachers, and schools.
The measure updates the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-Gastpe) Act, or Republic Act 8545, strengthening the partnership between the public and private sectors in addressing classroom shortages and expanding access to quality education.
Meanwhile, the Last Mile Schools Act addresses the infrastructure gap that hinders access to education in geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected areas (Gidca). The bill establishes a five-year nationwide program to ensure that schools in these communities have adequate classrooms, learning facilities, and digital connectivity. It mandates the DepEd to work closely with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Energy (DOE), National Electrification Administration (NEA), and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to construct classrooms, improve access roads, and expand electricity and internet services in last-mile areas.
In a statement, Tingog party-list group said the passage of the two measures aims to make education truly inclusive and accessible for all.
‘Education should never be a matter of privilege or proximity. Through the Private Basic Education Vouchers Assistance Act and the Last Mile Schools Act, we are making sure that learning opportunities reach every Filipino learner-whether in private school classrooms or in the most remote barangays. These reforms affirm our belief that education is both a right and a responsibility shared by all, and that no child should ever be left behind simply because of circumstance,’ said Tingog, one of the authors of the bill.
Tingog added that the approval of these bills reflects the strong partnership between Congress and the national government in advancing education as a cornerstone of national development and vowed to continue championing measures that uplift Filipino learners and strengthen the country’s education system.