P3.9 B senior high vouchers released

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) has released over P3.9 billion to private schools and government-owned colleges and universities that accepted beneficiaries of the senior high school voucher program.

The payment represents 75 percent of the total billing statements received by its central office as of the end of last year.

“This amount corresponds to 607,208 voucher program beneficiaries or Grade 11 students enrolled in non-DepEd schools who are entitled to receive financial assistance through a voucher subsidy,” DepEd said.

Another P1.28 billion will be released following the processing of the necessary documents.

Last year, DepEd received over P12 billion to implement the senior high school voucher program, which provides financial subsidy to public school students who will enroll in private schools or state/local universities and colleges for Grade 11.

Students who finished Grade 10 in private schools may also receive assistance upon submission and verification of the necessary documents required by DepEd.

The amount of the voucher varies depending on the locality of the student, the highest at P22,500 for those living in urban areas such as Metro Manila.

“The indicative timeline for processing of payments is two months upon the school’s submission of billing statements, provided the documents are complete and in order,” DepEd said.