The national government has earmarked ₱38.2 billion in the proposed 2027 budget to support 2.3 million low-income students attending private high schools, providing an alternative for those unable to secure spots in overcrowded public schools.
House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Representative Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan announced the funding allocation on Sunday, November 8, highlighting its role in preventing students from dropping out due to financial hardship.
“The subsidies will give underprivileged students a greater opportunity to continue their education despite their families’ financial difficulties and the limited capacity of public schools,” Libanan said.
“Without this assistance, many students risk abandoning their studies, particularly those whose families are struggling to make ends meet and who may be forced to seek work instead of completing high school,” he added.
Breakdown of the Funding
The ₱38.2-billion allocation under the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) is distributed across three targeted programs:
- ₱12 billion for the Junior High School Educational Service Contracting Program (JHSESC) for Grades 7 to 10.
- ₱24 billion for the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHSVP) for Grades 11 and 12.
- ₱2.2 billion for the Joint Delivery Voucher Program (JDVP) for technical-vocational-livelihood tracks.
The General Appropriations Bill (GAB) carrying these allocations was approved on third and final reading by the House last month and is currently pending in the Senate.
Addressing High School Dropout Rates
Libanan pointed to data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education revealing that financial constraints heavily impact student retention. During the 2024–2025 school year, 8.3% of enrolled Grade 11 students—totaling 169,836 individuals—failed to advance to Grade 12.
“The ability of families to keep their children in school should not be dictated by their financial circumstances. Helping students complete their education also means investing in the country’s future workers and productive citizens,” Libanan stated.
“Every student who gets to finish high school has a better chance of escaping poverty and building a more secure future. These subsidies can make that difference for families who otherwise could not afford private education,” he concluded.
The JHSESC and SHSVP are jointly managed by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Private Education Assistance Committee, while the JDVP is administered directly by DepEd.