THE DEPARTMENT of Education thanked the Department of Budget and Management for increasing the funding for the Senior High School Voucher Program and Educational Service Contracting.

“The DepEd is grateful for the continued support of the Department of Budget and Management for the basic education, especially on the approval of the proposed substantial increase in the Government Assistance and Subsidies programs – Senior High School Voucher  and Educational Service Contracting under its Tier 1 budget proposal for fiscal year 2023,” DepEd said in a statement.

Out of the P626.18 billion approved budget, P39.33 billion will go to SHS VP which will cover 1,132,155 beneficiaries for School Year 2023-2024. Meanwhile, the ESC got a budget of P11.05 billion for 1,031,193 grantees for school year 2023-2024.

“With this substantial increase for SHS VP for 2023, DepEd is now better equipped to fulfill its mandate to improve and expand access to quality education for Junior and Senior High Schools under ESC and SHS VP respectively,” DepEd said.

“This is through aiding private education institutions by making payments to private schools on their billings filed and claimed in previous years. In addition, the agency is also financially capacitated to make full payments to concerned private schools within one budget year,” it added.

The Education department also thanked the DBM and the national government for their unwavering support of the voucher programs under GAS.

“The Department affirms its commitment in continuously implementing its voucher program efficiently and effectively,” it said.