Gatchalian dismayed over ₱12.3B leakage in senior high voucher program

SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian expressed dismay that at least ₱12.30 billion, which can be considered leakage, went to non-poor beneficiaries of the Senior High School Voucher Program in 2024.

Based on the senator’s office analysis, the discovered minimum leakage is equivalent to 47% of the ₱26.31 billion allocated to SHS-VP in School Year (SY) 2024-2025.

Using the 2024 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS), the senator learned that 67% of the SHS-VP beneficiaries for SY 2024-2025 are from non-poor households.

In the latest Senate hearing, Gatchalian expressed his dismay at the Department of Education’s (DepEd) failure to issue new guidelines to address the challenges faced by the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE).

Almost two years have passed since Gatchalian led the hearings that criticized the existence of ghost students and billions of pesos in leakages. “What we want is action, not just promises. This is becoming a volume game for schools, senior high school is now for profit. It’s about increasing the number of students, and then you will be charged,” Gatchalian said while describing what appears to be a modus.

According to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, the new guidelines should address the most needy students, address leakages, ensure quality assurance, and avoid congestion in public schools.