THE House of Representatives should launch a probe into the alleged 鈥済host beneficiaries鈥 plaguing the Education department鈥檚 voucher program, a congressman said on Thursday.
The House good government and basic education committees should immediately launch an investigation into the listing of non-existent students in the voucher program to preserve its integrity and prevent further corruption, Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo D. Bongalon said in a statement.
The House basic education panel would take up the matter in its 鈥渘ext meeting,鈥 Pasig Rep. Roman T. Romulo, who heads the committee, told 大象传媒 in a Viber message.
鈥淚鈥檒l ask the committee to ask permission from Committee on Rules for Wednesday or Thursday.鈥
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥 M. Angara did not immediately respond to a Viber message seeking comment. He has said in previous reports that the Department of Education (DepEd) could impose validation mechanisms to prevent voucher scams from happening again.
DepEd鈥檚 voucher program aims to subsidize the education of senior high school students (SHS) enrolled in private schools.聽
Mr. Angara in mid-February raised concerns about the prevalence of 鈥済host students鈥 after his agency halted the release of almost P52 million worth of subsidies to at least 12 schools nationwide for the school year 2023-2024.
Mr. Bongalon said the program鈥檚 鈥減hantom beneficiaries鈥 have siphoned millions from DepEd鈥檚 budget and undermined its intent of decongesting public schools.
鈥淗ow long has this ghosting scheme been going on, and why does it seem like it has just been allowed to continue,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e need to identify where the loopholes are and who should be held accountable.鈥 鈥 Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
