SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday warned that the Senior High School Voucher Program is in peril because of its huge budget cut.

The program was given an allocation of P25.2 billion this year. For next year, it was allotted P16.5 billion, lower by P8.7 billion.

With this budget, the number of beneficiaries is expected to decline by 33,883.

The SHS-VP targets 1.38 million beneficiaries for fiscal year 2022, which requires a budget of P24.6 billion or P12.3 billion per semester.

A voucher for a beneficiary is valued at P17,793.

The SHS VP is a financial assistance program that enables underprivileged but qualified senior high school students to study in private schools, state and local universities and colleges.

“We have to send a clear signal to our private schools because they are hurting, and reducing the budget of the SHS-VP will definitely send the wrong signal to our private schools,” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian pointed out that ensuring adequate funding for the SHS-VP will also prevent the accumulation of payables to private schools, which are already struggling with more job losses incurred amid the Covid19 pandemic due to a decline in enrollment rates.

“Kung matitiyak nating may sapat na pondo ang voucher program para sa senior high school, matitiyak natin ang patuloy na edukasyon ng mga mag-aaral na bahagi ng programa. Matutulungan din natin ang mga pribadong paaralan na ating katuwang sa paghahatid ng dekalidad na edukasyon,” he added.