House passes bill giving vouchers to poor college, tech-voc students

College students in La Union. (Photo courtesy of Commission on Higher Education – Ilocos region)

MANILA, Philippines — Poor students from college and technical-vocational institutions (TVIs) may soon get vouchers to help them get through their education.

This is as the House of Representatives passed House bill number 7922 on third and final reading on Monday.

The measure was approved by 265 lawmakers.

No member of the House opposed the piece of legislation.

Four representatives abstained from voting.

The bill amends Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

It adds a system where academically-qualified students from poor families can use the vouchers to transfer from public schools to private schools.

“There shall be a proportional budgetary allocation to support poor and academically qualified students through a portable voucher system … that shall allow beneficiaries to study in private HEIs and private TVIs in cities and municipalities where there are existing SUCs (state university and colleges), LUCs (local universities and colleges), and public TVIs,” the bill stated.

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