The Department of Education (DepEd) assured on Wednesday a continuous investigation into the irregularities in the implementation of the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP) under the previous DepEd leadership.

In a post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forum in San Juan City on Wednesday, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the department has undertaken system reforms to prevent a repeat of the irregularities.

Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro commended the effort of the DepEd in recovering around PhP65 million from 40 of the 54 private schools flagged for irregularities in the SHS-VP for school years 2021–2022 and 2022–2023.

Angara replied, “Hindi lang 65 (million pesos), parang mas malaki pa yata. Parang nasa 100 (million pesos) na yata eh. So, talagang kami continuous ang ating investigation diyan at paano palakasin ‘yung sistema para wala ng makakadaya nito.”

Angara said legal actions have been initiated not only to recover misused funds through civil cases, but to hold perpetrators criminally liable.

“Nag-file na ho kami ng mga kaso. Hindi lamang civil para ma-recover po ‘yung bayad pati criminal para maturuan na rin ng leksyon na ‘yung sistema hindi dapat pinaglalaruan,” Angara said.

Angara said the irregularities in voucher program affected intended student beneficiaries who depend on these subsidies to gain access to quality education.

“Mataas ang halaga ng pinag-uusapan dito, hindi lang ‘yung halaga ng pera, pero ‘yung halaga na nawawala sa nakararapat na dapat tumanggap na voucher na ito,” Angara said.

“Ito ay future ng mga kabataan natin. At ‘yung voucher system natin halos 50 billion pesos na at hindi lang sa mga public schools ‘yan. Itong vouchers ay para sa ating pribadong eskuwelahan,” Angara said.

The DepEd official thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s unwavering support for education.

“Salamat na mayroon tayong Pangulo na nagpapahalaga sa edukasyon. Lahat po kami ay united diyan sa aming sentimiyento,” Angara said. | PND