MANILA — Senator Raffy Tulfo questioned the Department of Education’s (DepEd) screening process for the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE) program, citing reports of abuse and favoritism.

During the Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing, Tulfo asked how DepEd ensures that applicants to E-GASTPE are genuinely qualified and whether students covered by the program truly come from congested public schools. He noted that the agency admitted it lacks sufficient capacity to properly screen beneficiaries.

“Maganda sana ang programa pero hindi nito nagagawa ang layunin dahil sa mga kalokohan ng iba—ghost students, fly-by-night institutions na nagpapanggap na private schools, patronage politics, at kung anu-ano pa,” Tulfo said.

Tulfo also expressed concern that many voucher recipients allegedly come from non-poor households, while the program is intended to prioritize the poorest students.

“Ginagawa rin itong parang MAIFIP (Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients) ng ilang opisyal—palakasan kung sino ang mabibigyan ng voucher. Lahat ng ito ay nag-aaksaya ng pondo na sana’y nakapagbigay ng edukasyon sa milyun-milyong kabataang Pilipino,” he added.

At present, around 1.2 million students are enrolled in E-GASTPE. Tulfo emphasized that the program should decongest public schools and accommodate students in private institutions, and he urged DepEd to review and improve the program’s system.

“For the 2026 budget, we have P41.18 billion allocated for the E-GASTPE program. And now we want to institutionalize it through a law. Believe me, I want this institutionalized. But subject to certain conditions,” Tulfo said.

“I want transparency in all the steps of this voucher program. All stakeholders should be aware of the program, the students, teachers, communities, public and private school institutions. There must be a record where this money will go and how area beneficiaries, student beneficiaries, and private schools are selected. There must be auditing done,” he added.

Tulfo directed DepEd to submit a complete list of participating schools to determine whether E-GASTPE is being properly managed and effectively implemented.