THE House of Representatives on Monday approved on second reading House Bill (HB) 11214, or the proposed “Private Basic Education Vouchers Assistance Act,” providing specific criteria for the voucher assistance programs given to students and participating private schools.
Under HB 11214, the assistance would also be extended to kindergarten, elementary, junior and senior high school learners.
The measure seeks the creation of the Bureau of Private Education (BPE) under the Department of Education which shall supervise private basic education institutions, including matters related to government assistance and subsidies, among others.
The chamber also approved on second reading HB 11198, which seeks to declare September of every year as the “National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Month Act,” to promote safe learning environments and protect children and youth from abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other harmful conditions.
Committee on basic education and culture chairperson and Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo sponsored both HBs 11214 and 11198 on the floor.
The House also approved HB 11230, providing for a new charter of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). The bill seeks to strengthen the powers and functions of the bank as the country’s premier financial institution mandated to provide development financing and financial services to strategic sectors for the achievement of sustained economic growth.
Under the bill, authorized capital stock of DBP would be increased from the current P50 billion to P300 billion, with P32 billion, or 10.67% of the total amount, subscribed and fully paid by the national government.
The bill mandates the DBP to support government programs promoting growth and increased productivity in such sectors such as infrastructure, micro, small and medium enterprises promotion, and high impact programs in education, health care, housing, environmental protection and other social services.
Authored by lawmakers led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and committee on banks and financial intermediaries chairperson Rep. Irwin Tieng, the bill would repeal for the purpose Executive Order No. 81, dated Dec. 3, 1986, also known as the “Revised Charter of the Development Bank of the Philippines,” as amended.
