THE proposed Basic Education Voucher Assistance Act may soon be presented to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his signature. Once signed, this landmark measure will strengthen the partnership between the government and the private education sector by expanding the current subsidy programs in Grades 7 to 12 to include Kindergarten to Grade 6 Filipino learners.
However, as the bicameral conference committee prepares its final report on the measure, one important provision in it threatens the efficient and timely delivery of government teacher and student subsidy programs under the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-Gastpe) Act and soon under the proposed law on basic education vouchers. That is the provision that eases out the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) as co-implementor.
The bill requires engaging a third-party co-implementor through the government procurement process, instead of PEAC. This change is likely to cause significant delays, as procurement can take up to 12 months. Since the voucher program follows the school year schedule, such delays could disrupt enrollment planning; voucher processing; and timely assistance to students, teachers and schools.
There is also a risk that the implementation system would need to be rebuilt entirely.
Currently, only the PEAC has the established system and experience to co-manage these programs with the Department of Education (DepEd).
For over four decades, the DepEd and PEAC have jointly implemented government assistance programs for private basic education. This partnership is recognized as the leading model of public-private collaboration in Philippine education.
The partnership has established a nationwide implementation system, supported by specialized expertise, quality assurance, digital platforms and collaboration with thousands of private schools. This has enabled the efficient, transparent and accountable delivery of voucher assistance, ensuring continuity for learners and schools.
As the DepEd provides government oversight, the PEAC offers a private sector system of checks and balances to maintain the program’s credibility, efficiency and integrity, making the alliance one of the strongest PPP models in the country.
The Asian Development Bank and the World Bank have cited the DepEd-PEAC co-implementation as cost-efficient and effective, attributing this to the committee’s network of volunteer experts from high-performing private schools, regional oversight, and teacher-training expertise.
The bill, therefore, must establish government oversight without disrupting a program that serves hundreds of thousands of Filipino learners and their families. Currently, the DepEd administers all subsidy programs, with the PEAC as co-implementor under a management contract authorized by Congress. The bill should include standards and safeguards to ensure the continued efficiency of their partnership.
The Basic Education Voucher Assistance Act is a major education reform that expands subsidy programs to K-6 students. However, its success depends not only on increased funding and beneficiaries but also on strengthening the agencies that built the program. Removing the PEAC risks weakening or even collapsing this effective and long-standing public-private partnership.
Leading private educational associations, including the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines; Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities; Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities; Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities; Unified TVET of the Philippines Inc.; Federation of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators; and National Alliance of Private Schools Philippines, support the immediate passage of the Basic Education Voucher Assistance Act. They also emphasize the importance of maintaining the DepEd-PEAC partnership, which demonstrates proven capacity and operational efficiency in E-Gastpe’s delivery.
