A pro-education congressman is prodding the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Education (DepEd) and other concerned agencies to work together for the expeditious release of all pending subsidies and voucher assistance.

This, as Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre warned over the weekend that delays were placing additional strain on financially vulnerable educational institutions already grappling with rising operational costs.

“The prompt release of these funds will help protect educational continuity, institutional stability, and the welfare of both learners and educators,” Acidre said.

The second-termer from Tacloban City, Leyte has described the situation as an "education emergency", particularly to many private schools, especially small, mission-driven, and financially vulnerable institutions serving low-income families and underserved communities.

Acidre noted that the situation has become more urgent amid increasing operational expenses driven by higher fuel and energy costs, which have affected transportation, utilities, maintenance, school supplies, and other day-to-day expenditures.

“Many private schools are doing everything they can to keep education accessible and affordable, especially for families who rely on government assistance so their children can remain in school,” he said.

Acidre, who chairs the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, expressed support for the appeal made earlier by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education for the swift release of pending government assistance intended for private schools.

He stressed that government subsidies and voucher assistance remain critical to the continued operation of many private educational institutions, particularly those heavily dependent on state support to sustain personnel salaries, classroom operations, and preparations for the upcoming academic year.

“For these schools, subsidy support is not supplemental. It helps keep classrooms open, supports teachers and non-teaching personnel, and allows schools to continue delivering education despite mounting financial pressures,” he pointed out.

He also emphasized that the passage of the 2026 national budget as an “education budget” should translate into concrete and timely support across the entire education sector, including private schools that complement the government’s delivery of education services.