Ghost Month Revelation: From Flood Control Ghost Projects to SHS Voucher Program’s ‘Ghost Students’
Unsettling revelations in politics and education have marked this year’s Ghost Month. Sarah Discaya’s firm has been tied to controversial flood control ghost projects under Rodrigo Duterte’s leadership. Adding to the storm, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, the Department of Education (DepEd) has now uncovered a ghost student scam involving the SHS voucher program, with charges filed against seven schools. According to Sonny Angara, during a House appropriations committee hearing, criminal complaints have been filed after uncovering “ghost beneficiaries” enrolled under the schools’ programs.
“We have filed a case against seven private schools with ghost beneficiaries, so it has been finalized with the fiscal office; we have a demand letter there,” Angara told lawmakers.
DepEd stated that the bogus claims totaled ₱61.9 million, while Senator Angara noted that the agency’s legal team is still reviewing similar cases that could add to the scandal.
What is the SHS Voucher Program?
The Senior High School Voucher Program, also known as SHS, is a government subsidy program administered by the Department of Education (DepEd). It has been in place since 2015 to help students from low-income families attend private schools and alleviate overcrowding in public schools. Depending on where a student lives, each voucher is worth between ₱14,000 and ₱22,500
Earlier this year, DepEd also confirmed that 55 schools had been removed from the program starting in 2023 after being found guilty of various violations. Some were found to have listed students who didn’t even exist, covering school years 2021 to 2024.
Major scandals across the region have shadowed this Ghost Month. In Indonesia, outrage erupted after it was revealed that all 580 lawmakers were receiving a hefty monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (around $3,200). The controversy fueled protests that escalated into the burning of a regional parliament building in Makassar, South Sulawesi.