PEAC, DepEd vow tighter controls for voucher program

The Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) vowed to work closely with the Department of Education to protect public funds and ensure the integrity of the senior high school (SHS) voucher program after the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged irregularities involving "ghost students" in the program.

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PEAC executive director Doris Ferrer said necessary safeguards are being implemented in the government's SHS voucher program.

"The integrity of the SHS voucher program is nonnegotiable for us," Ferrer said.

Ferrer added that PEAC has clear systems, validation processes and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that vouchers are properly used and that any concerns are addressed immediately.

She said PEAC, in close coordination with DepEd, validates voucher grantees through its Voucher Management System and crosschecks records with DepEd’s Learner Information System before processing any billing.