Latest Posts

Screen Shot 2025-09-16 at 6.07.33 PM

Italian teenager set to become Catholic Church’s first millennial saint

kirk 2

What We Know About Charlie Kirk’s Funeral So Far

tech 6

HUAWEI Gives Users Premium Care for Devices Free-of-Charge for a Worry-Free Experience with the New Service Upgrade Program

DepEd works with Congress, NBI to halt SHS voucher irregularities

Screenshot

SHARE

Committed to upholding transparency and accountability, the Department of Education (DepEd) is pursuing an internal probe into alleged abuses in the Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program. The DepEd has now tapped the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to launch an independent investigation. 

Eight months into his term, Education Secretary Sonny Angara rallied the Central Office to inform the public of anomalies in the program. He authorized the Executive Committee to pursue all legal and administrative actions necessary to protect the program’s integrity and prevent future irregularities.

Screenshot

“We will ensure that the SHS Voucher Program remains a tool for educational access, not a loophole for fraud. We are strengthening safeguards, reinforcing accountability, and making sure only rightful beneficiaries receive assistance,” Secretary Angara said.

DepEd also assured lawmakers of its full cooperation in addressing concerns regarding the program’s implementation during a House committee hearing last Wednesday, March 19.

Multi-layered verification against fraud

To prevent future irregularities, DepEd is implementing stricter measures and enhanced validation protocols. The verification process now involves multiple layers, beginning with cross-checking data between the Voucher Management System (VMS) and the Learner Information System (LIS) to ensure that learners listed in the billing statements are genuinely enrolled in the school.

The second level of validation is conducted at the Central Office (CO), where discrepancies between billing statements and LIS records are flagged. If inconsistencies are found, payments to schools are withheld until the issues are resolved.

A post-billing monitoring process follows, conducted by the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC), which oversees participating schools on the ground. The final layer of verification is DepEd’s post-validation review, ensuring all prior verification processes have been completed before payments are made.

DepEd has also engaged Regional and Schools Division Offices (ROs/SDOs) to conduct school inspections and submit detailed reports to the Central Office, a measure implemented in SY 2024-2025. Additionally, PEAC validation for the second semester is set to begin next month.

School monitoring has also been expanded, with the percentage of schools undergoing evaluation increasing from 10% to 20%.

Future steps

DepEd is set to upgrade the LIS to include an audit trail to track all changes, automatic email alerts for data updates, and a system that maintains a complete learner history.

In addition, DepEd is reviewing proposals for the recognition of SHS private schools to further refine program implementation.

As investigations progress, DepEd reaffirms its commitment to transparency and assures its full cooperation with Congress, the NBI, and other relevant authorities in holding accountable those responsible for any wrongdoing.

*All Photos from DepEd

RELATED ARTICLES

Screen Shot 2025-09-16 at 6.07.33 PM

Italian teenager set to become Catholic Church’s first millennial saint

Rome witnessed a historic moment this past Sunday as Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager with a love for computers, video games, and his Catholic faith,...
kirk 2

What We Know About Charlie Kirk’s Funeral So Far

The sudden death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has sparked national mourning, with supporters and political leaders alike preparing to pay tribute at his upcoming...
tech 6

HUAWEI Gives Users Premium Care for Devices Free-of-Charge for a Worry-Free Experience with the New Service Upgrade Program

HUAWEI sets a new standard in after-sales care by offering premium services to users entirely free of charge with the Service Upgrade Program in 2025....
tech 1

Ber Months, Ber Vibes Binges: The Perfect Movies & Series to Start Your Cozy September

There’s something about the “Ber months” that feels instantly different. The nights get cooler, Christmas playlists start sneaking into jeepney rides and malls, and the...
huawei 2

Discover the Masterpiece in Every Stunning Detail with Ultra Chroma Camera Technology and Redefined Super Symbol Design of the HUAWEI Pura 80, Now Available for PHP 47,999

Capture the richness of life’s moments with the HUAWEI Pura 80, a smartphone that blends timeless elegance with powerful performance designed just for you. It...
borderlands

Break Free: Borderlands®4 Now Available Worldwide

Today, 2K and Gearbox Software announced that Borderlands®4, the definitive looter-shooter and latest entry in the genre-defining Borderlands franchise, is now available worldwide for PlayStation®5 (PS5®), Xbox Series X|S,...
Screen Shot 2025-09-16 at 6.07.33 PM

Italian teenager set to become Catholic Church’s first millennial saint

Rome witnessed a historic moment this past Sunday as Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager with a love for computers, video games, and his Catholic faith,...
kirk 2

What We Know About Charlie Kirk’s Funeral So Far

The sudden death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has sparked national mourning, with supporters and political leaders alike preparing to pay tribute at his upcoming...
tech 6

HUAWEI Gives Users Premium Care for Devices Free-of-Charge for a Worry-Free Experience with the New Service Upgrade Program

HUAWEI sets a new standard in after-sales care by offering premium services to users entirely free of charge with the Service Upgrade Program in 2025....

Don't Miss

viber_image_2025-09-12_14-08-28-062

Outpouring of Grief After Death of Charlie Kirk

kirk 3

Charlie Kirk’s Life Defined by Christian Service & Witness Before His Passing

Screen Shot 2025-08-26 at 10.33.59 PM

Trump links Ukraine Peace Efforts to Getting into Heaven

japan

Could Japan Become the ‘Land of the Risen Son’, Jesus? Superbook Spreads the Gospel