SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian has voiced support for the Department of Education’s ongoing investigation into alleged ghost beneficiaries under the Senior High School Voucher Program.

Gatchalian said DepEd’s probe aligns with the findings of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, which uncovered irregularities in the implementation of the E-GASTPE Law (Republic Act No. 8545).

According to the Senate inquiry, between School Years 2020-2021 and 2022-2023, 11,825 SHS-VP beneficiaries were found to have documentation and qualification issues. These anomalies are expected to result in a refund of ₱310.04 million, with ₱239.3 million still to be returned to the government.

The senator emphasized the need for DepEd to strengthen its billing system to ensure that only legitimate students receive voucher subsidies. He also stressed the importance of accurate learner validation and timely payments to schools to prevent misuse of public funds.

Gatchalian raised concerns that some schools appear to prioritize securing vouchers over ensuring the quality of education and proper implementation of the program.