The Department of Education (DepEd) is intensifying reforms in its Senior High School Voucher Program, implementing stricter controls and accountability measures. This action comes amid ongoing legal proceedings against entities accused of fraudulent subsidy claims.
Legal Action Against Fraudulent Claims
In a press briefing held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced that DepEd has already filed seven cases against implicated private schools. Furthermore, the department has initiated criminal complaints against individuals allegedly claiming vouchers for unqualified or non-existent beneficiaries.
The total amount involved in these filed cases is a substantial P37.58 million. Secretary Angara confirmed that these cases are now undergoing the proper legal process. According to DepEd, this legal offensive is a critical part of a broader campaign to cleanse and safeguard the integrity of the voucher program.
Systemic Reforms and Stricter Management
Parallel to the legal actions, the department is reinforcing program management under the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-Gastpe). The introduced reforms focus on several key areas to prevent future abuse and inefficiency.
These include implementing stricter overall management, issuing clearer program guidelines, and fostering closer coordination with private school associations. The goal is to decisively address recurring issues related to documentation, regulatory compliance, and processing delays.
Angara emphasized that DepEd is now conducting systematic cross-checking of databases that were previously not matched against each other. This proactive data analysis is crucial for identifying discrepancies and potential fraud.
Five-Step Validation Framework
At the core of these operational reforms is a newly strengthened five-step validation framework. This system is specifically designed to ensure that vouchers are granted only to legitimate and qualified student beneficiaries.
The comprehensive validation process involves multiple layers of verification:
- Cross-checking data between the Voucher Management System and the Learner Information System.
- Reconciling any discrepancies found during the data matching.
- Conducting post-audit monitoring visits to private schools.
- Inspecting the operations and records of DepEd field offices.
- Re-validating the eligibility and enrollment status of students for the second semester.
Through these combined legal and systemic efforts, the DepEd aims to restore full confidence in the Senior High School Voucher Program, ensuring that government funds directly and rightfully support the education of Filipino students.
