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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DepEd: 7 cases filed over P37.58M irregular Senior High School voucher claims

DepEd: 7 cases filed over P37.58M irregular Senior High School voucher claims

Published Jan 6, 2026 03:25 pm
(DepEd / Manila Bulletin file)
(DepEd / Manila Bulletin file)
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday, January 6, confirmed that seven administrative and criminal cases have been filed against erring private schools and individuals over P37.58 million in irregular claims under the Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program.
In a statement, DepEd said the cases filed involved subsidies allegedly granted to ineligible and fictitious beneficiaries.
DepEd said the Central Office has filed seven cases against erring private schools and initiated criminal charges against individuals found to have claimed subsidies for ineligible or fictitious beneficiaries. The cases involve a total of P37.58 million and are now undergoing the appropriate legal processes.
The crackdown follows the discovery of anomalies in voucher claims, prompting DepEd to tighten governance under the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE).
DepEd said it has reinforced implementation oversight, clarified program rules, and improved coordination with private school associations to address recurring issues in documentation, compliance, and processing timelines.
Tightening controls
DepEd said it has also stepped up enforcement and accountability measures in the SHS Voucher Program, pursuing legal action against private schools and individuals involved in irregular and fraudulent subsidy claims, as part of reforms under Angara.
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said on January 6, 2026, that stronger safeguards are now in place at both the school and central office levels, along with regular cross-checking of databases to prevent irregular claims involving the Senior High School Voucher Program. (DepEd photo)
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said on January 6, 2026, that stronger safeguards are now in place at both the school and central office levels, along with regular cross-checking of databases to prevent irregular claims involving the Senior High School Voucher Program. (DepEd photo)
“Binago po natin yung sistema, dati binabayaran kaagad, inaadvance yung bayad, ngayon tinitignan talaga yung resulta at kung naka-enroll, tapos yung learner number at nag-iinstitute tayo ng mga safeguards both at the school level and at the DepEd level (We changed the system. Before, payments were made immediately, in advance. Now, we really look at the results and whether the student is enrolled, along with the learner number, and we are instituting safeguards both at the school level and at the DepEd level),” Angara said during the Malacañang press briefing on January 6.
“Binabangga namin yung mga database natin na dati hindi ginagawa (We are cross-checking our databases, which was not done before),” he added.
Angara was referring to the department’s strengthened five-step validation framework, designed to ensure that voucher subsidies are released only to qualified learners.
The process includes cross-checking data between the Voucher Management System and the Learner Information System, resolving discrepancies, conducting post-audit monitoring visits to participating private schools, field office site inspections, and revalidating learner eligibility and enrollment status during the second semester.
DepEd said the strengthened controls have already yielded results, preventing at least P200 million from being released to ineligible beneficiaries in School Years 2023–2024 and 2024–2025.
In parallel, DepEd said it is finalizing updated guidelines for the recognition of senior high schools participating in the voucher program.
The revised rules aim to ensure that private school participation meets consistent standards on quality, compliance, and accountability.
DepEd emphasized that these measures form part of a broader push to reinforce transparency and fiscal discipline in the SHS Voucher Program, ensuring that public funds are safeguarded and directed only to learners who meet the program’s requirements. 

Related Tags

DepEd Senior High School DepEd Senior High School Voucher Program DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara DepEd SHS
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