SENATE Committee on Basic Education chairman Sherwin Gatchalian is looking at the possibility of reducing the allocation for the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education or E-GASTPE.

This was after discovering that billions of pesos of the fund were given to non-poor students who are not the main target of the voucher system.

“Ang reform na nakikita namin ay bawasan ang budget dahil mga non-poor lang ang nakikinabang at hind poor learners. Isa pang reform ay gawing istrikto ang batas na mga poor but deserving students lang ang dapat mabigyan ng subsidiya,” Gatchalian said.

The senator also divulged that they found out that there are 4,000 student beneficiaries in Candaba, Pampanga lacking proper documents.

“Imposible naman na 4k students walang dokumento,” the senator stressed.

He also urged the Commission on Audit to continue with their investigation and audit on the implementation of the program.

“Dapat i-review ang proseso ng pagbibigay ng subsidiya ng PEAC at DepEd dahil P360 million ang pwedeng mawala sa gobyerno dahil sa ghost students,” he further said.