The Department of Education (DepEd) has filed cases and strengthened screening safeguards in the senior high school voucher program after state auditors flagged the presence of “ghost students” that could skew the release of public subsidies.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said seven cases are already pending and about a dozen more are under evaluation in connection with suspected irregular entries in student lists used for voucher payments.
“We filed cases several months ago. We have seven pending cases, and about 12 more are under investigation and close to filing,” Angara told Palace reporters.
The Commission on Audit earlier noted instances in which names appeared multiple times or were listed despite nonattendance, raising the risk that funds meant for legitimate learners could be misallocated.
Angara said the DepEd has changed how voucher payments are released, noting that the department previously advanced payments but now requires validation before funds are disbursed.
“Before, payments were released in advance. Now, we verify actual enrollment, confirm learner reference numbers, and cross-check our databases,” he said.
“We are putting safeguards both at the school level and within DepEd,” he added.
Angara said database matching is now being implemented to detect duplicate or nonexistent entries after it was not routinely done in earlier cycles.
Asked whether the department is confident the new controls will curb “ghost students,” Angara replied, “Yes, definitely.”
He also said DepEd is coordinating with local government units on classroom construction, with most of the estimated 20,000 additional classrooms expected to be built or bid out through LGUs.
Angara said the parallel efforts, which include tightening program oversight while expanding facilities, aim to ensure public education funds support actual learners and address persistent classroom shortages.
Angara was appointed DepEd secretary in mid-2024 after Vice President Sara Duterte resigned from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet.
Last year, Angara said the government saved more than P50 million after
halting the release of vouchers for senior high school students in 12 private
schools found to be nonexistent.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education said it allocated P634 million for its Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program, which will grant tuition support and stipends to qualified students from low middle-income families.
“If a student is truly capable and wants to enroll in a priority program at La Salle or Ateneo, funding will be provided, so they are not limited to state-funded schools,” CHED chairperson Shirley Agrupis said.
She said the stipend computation will depend on the school, noting that scholars in state colleges and universities may receive an annual stipend of P58,000.
Students enrolling in private schools in the National Capital Region may receive up to P208,000 annually in tuition and stipend support, while those studying in private schools outside Metro Manila may get up to P93,000 annually.
Agrupis added that a separate P7.8 billion has been allocated to help cover deficiencies in free higher education, allowing state colleges and universities greater fiscal space to improve services and facilities.
