THE Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) said that strong safeguards are now in place to protect public funds and ensure the integrity of the Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program amid reported irregularities. The Department of Education (DepEd) said in a Malacañang press briefing that it has initiated legal action against erring private schools and individuals found to have claimed subsidies for ineligible or fictitious voucher beneficiaries worth nearly P38 million. “The integrity of the SHS Voucher Program is nonnegotiable for us. We have clear systems, validation processes and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that vouchers are properly used and that any concerns are addressed immediately,” PEAC Executive Director Doris Ferrer said in a statement on Thursday. Ferrer said the PEAC, in close coordination with DepEd, validated voucher grantees through its Voucher Management System and cross-checks records with the DepEd’s Learner Information System before processing any billing. She said PEAC does not process billing documents unless schools have been cleared from the previous school year. “When issues are identified, refunds are required. And when necessary, sanctions such as suspension or termination from the program are imposed on erring participating schools,” Ferrer said. The PEAC has also recommended requiring quality assurance to ensure SHS providers deliver for eligible learners, and that they would work closely with DepEd in handling cases and strengthening program policies. PEAC, Ferrer said, remains committed to transparency, accountability and protecting the welfare of learners. “Our role is to ensure that the voucher program continues to serve students while safeguarding public trust,” Ferrer said. Around 6.7 million learners have benefited from the voucher program. PEAC is composed of the presidents of the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities, and PEAC regional program directors nationwide. In a related development, Tingog Partylist Rep. Jude Acidre has called on the Senate to prioritize the approval of a House-approved bill that would give students from poor and middle-income families more access to quality education in private schools. House Bill 4744, filed by Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, was approved on third and final reading last October, and has been sent to the Senate for its own consideration and approval. The bill would expand financial aid to poor but deserving students under Republic Act 6728, or Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, by establishing a private education voucher program, which shall cover all years of basic education, from kindergarten to high school. The measure provides that voucher assistance may be given to students belonging to “middle-income families and below, as determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority, who attended public schools identified by the Department of Education as congested, or those living in areas with congested schools or without a nearby public school who wish to enroll in private basic education schools.”