Students Back Cayetano’s TLC Voucher Bill, Urge Senate to Fast-Track Education Reform

A student coalition has thrown its full support behind Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, calling for the immediate passage of his proposed Learner’s Choice (TLC) in Private Basic Education Act of 2025, a measure aimed at overhauling the country’s education subsidy system and easing congestion in public schools. In a letter sent to the Senate Committee on Basic Education on January 19, 2026, the Student First Coalition urged lawmakers to act swiftly, stressing that delays only worsen overcrowding and limit choices for low-income families. The TLC bill seeks to replace fragmented education subsidies with a portable, family-centered voucher system, allowing K–12 learners to enroll in any Department of Education-recognized private school. Under the proposal, funds would be released directly to families—putting choice back in the hands of parents, not bureaucracies. “We appreciate the provision by Sen. Alan Cayetano which prioritizes learners enrolled in or transferring from public schools officially identified by DepEd as congested,” said Student First Coalition Convenor Assistant Professor Luigie Almojano in the group’s letter. Filed as Senate Bill No. 422, the proposal restructures existing programs such as the Educational Service Contracting (ESC) under the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE), which critics say has failed to keep pace with the country’s growing student population. Cayetano’s bill introduces a single, transferable voucher that follows the learner—ensuring that assistance goes where it is most needed. Priority will be given to low-income families with children in overcrowded public schools, followed by other financially challenged students and graduates of the Alternative Learning System (ALS). The model draws inspiration from Taguig City’s education voucher program, which has earned recognition from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) for its impact and efficiency. Beyond student aid, the bill also strengthens teacher support in private schools, mandating better pay and increased funding for training. To ensure transparency, DepEd would be required to publish a public database detailing tuition fees and school performance, while oversight mechanisms involving the Commission on Audit (COA) are built into the system. Administration of the new framework would fall under a proposed Bureau of Private Education within DepEd, with local government units encouraged to align their scholarship programs with the national portable voucher system. Marking the International Day of Education on January 24, Cayetano said the TLC bill represents a decisive shift toward long-term reform in basic education. “The collective, balanced, and sustained use of public and private education will lead to better learning outcomes for Filipinos,” the senator said. For students and education advocates, the message is clear: pass the TLC bill now—or risk leaving another generation trapped in overcrowded classrooms with no real choice.