HOUSE APPROVES BILL ESTABLISHING VOUCHER SYSTEM FOR POOR STUDENTS IN TERTIARY EDUCATION

June 10, 2023 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY – The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill (HB) 7922, principally authored by Baguio Congressman Mark Go. The bill will expand the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) coverage under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931) to private colleges, universities, and technical vocational institutions.

The bill seeks a proportional budgetary allocation for a portable voucher system to support financially challenged yet academically qualified students so they can opt to study in private higher education institutions, especially in areas with no existing public universities and colleges. House Committee on Higher and Technical Education Chairperson Go said the bill is crucial to ensure that no student is left behind due to geographical considerations and insufficient capacity of public
HEIs.

He added that “the range of courses or degrees offered in public HEIs limits the options of students needing government subsidy.” “Students opting to study in private HEIs and tech-voc institutions shall be given a chance to have a fair share in the coverage of the TES through a voucher system.
This measure will go a long way in granting educational benefits to more students,” Rep. Mark Go said when he defended HB 7922 in the Plenary Hall on May 16, 2023.