At least ₱12.30 billion in leakages went to non-poor beneficiaries of the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP) in 2024, Senator Win Gatchalian revealed.
Based on estimates by Gatchalian’s office, the minimum leakage amounts to 47% of the ₱26.31 billion allotted to the SHS-VP for School Year (SY) 2024–2025.
“67% of SHS-VP beneficiaries for SY 2024–2025 come from non-poor households.”
Using data from the 2024 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS), the veteran legislator’s analysis found that 67% of SHS-VP beneficiaries for SY 2024–2025 come from non-poor households.
During the latest Senate hearing, the seasoned lawmaker expressed frustration over the Department of Education’s failure to issue new guidelines to plug gaps in the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE), nearly two years after he led an inquiry that uncovered “ghost students” and billions of pesos in leakages.
“Nagiging volume game na ito ng mga eskuwelahan, for profit na ngayon ang senior high school.”
“Ang gusto namin aksyon, hindi puro pangako. Nagiging volume game na ito ng mga eskuwelahan, for profit na ngayon ang senior high school. Padamihan ng estudyante, tapos kayo ang sisingilin,” the senator told the DepEd representative, describing what he said appears to be a new modus.
The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee said the new guidelines should prioritize the poorest learners, address leakages, ensure quality assurance, and result in public school decongestion.
