CAGAYAN de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez is calling for a broader investigation into the Education Service Contracting (ESC) program under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE).

Through House Resolution 2252, Rodriguez outlined several irregularities in the financial assistance program designed for students from low-income families.

Under the ESC program, eligible students receive vouchers ranging from P18,000 to P22,500 to enroll in private schools. However, Rodriguez pointed to a DepEd report revealing that P200 million worth of school vouchers had been withheld due to questionable and unverifiable student claims.

Rodriguez emphasized the need for stricter oversight to prevent fraudulent activities and ensure that government aid reaches deserving students. He urged DepEd and other relevant agencies to take decisive action in addressing these irregularities and strengthening GASTPE’s implementation.

As the House prepares for further discussions on the matter, Rodriguez vowed to push for reforms aimed at improving transparency and accountability in the distribution of financial assistance to private school students.