The proposed Basic Education Voucher Program Act, approved by a bicameral conference committee, may face delays in implementation due to procurement requirements. Schools have expressed concerns that these delays could disrupt the timely delivery of the program.
The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA) and its member national organization have appealed for reconsideration of one implementation provision. They argue that the engagement process under the existing procurement rules could last up to 12 months, which could affect enrollment planning, voucher processing, and the timely release of assistance to students and participating schools.
The proposed bill requires a third-party co-implementor to be procured through the government procurement process to ensure accountability. However, schools fear that this could lead to delays in the program's implementation, given the fixed timetable of every school year.
The private schools group is urging the members of the Bicameral Conference Committee to adopt an implementation mechanism that will preserve both government accountability and the continuity of the program. They emphasize that the Basic Education Voucher Assistance Act represents one of the most significant education reforms in recent years and that its success will depend on timely, predictable, and uninterrupted implementation.
The proposed expansion of the voucher assistance program aims to cover learners from Kindergarten to Grade 12, easing classroom congestion across public schools nationwide by allowing them to enroll in private institutions. Students from low-income households and disadvantaged sectors, including learners in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, Indigenous Peoples, and 4Ps beneficiaries, are prioritized for the program.
Students from low-income households or those classified as disadvantaged may also receive higher voucher amounts, and completers of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and disadvantaged learners in GIDAs are considered automatic voucher recipients. The success of the program will depend on sound policy and timely, predictable, and uninterrupted implementation.
