DepEd, PEAC tighten controls on SHS voucher program amidst irregularities  

The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) strengthened stricter security and integrity of public funds for the voucher program in Senior High School (SHS) education following the findings from the Commission on Audit (COA) on the alleged irregularities of the program. 

Earlier this month, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the agency will intensify the reforms in its implementation after filing cases against ‘erring private schools’ and individuals behind claimed vouchers to ‘ineligible or ghost students’. 

Angara emphasized that the reform focuses on overseeing the implementation, establishing clearer program guidelines, and improving coordination with private school associations to address documentation, compliance, and processing timeline issues. 

“Binago po natin yung sistema. Dati, binabayaran kaagad at ina-advance yung bayad. Ngayon, tinitingnan talaga yung resulta—kung naka-enroll, yung learner number—at nag-i-institute tayo ng mga safeguards both at the school level and at the DepEd level. Binabangga namin yung mga database natin na dati hindi ginagawa,” he said.

A systematic cross-checking of databases is currently being implemented in DepEd to ensure the release of vouchers to legitimate beneficiaries and prevention of fraudulent activities, which include the procedures in managing voucher system and learner information, resolving disparities, and monitoring and inspecting participating private schools and field office sites.

In response to this matter, PEAC coordinated with DepEd regarding these irregularities, moving toward strategies to deliver the best quality of SHS voucher programs. 

The committee ensured clearer systems, validation processes, and monitoring mechanisms, as well as stricter quality assurance measures among voucher recipients to improve services.  

PEAC Executive Director Doris Ferrer highlighted the necessity of the government’s voucher program. 

“The integrity of the SHS voucher program is non-negotiable for us,” she said. “We remain fully committed to transparency, accountability and protecting the welfare of our learners. Our role is to ensure that the voucher program continues to serve students while safeguarding public trust.”