Latest news with #post-SONA
GMA Network
30-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
DepEd seeks to recover up to P100M 'ghost student' claims
The Department of Education (DepEd) will pursue criminal and civil cases against those behind fraudulent claims in its Senior High School (SHS) program, as it seeks to recover up to P100 million in public funds. "Nag-file na po kami ng mga kaso—hindi lang civil para ma-recover 'yung bayad, pati criminal—dahil mataas ang halaga ng pinag-uusapan dito. Hindi lang ito usapin ng pera, kundi usapin ng nawawala sa mga karapat-dapat na dapat tumanggap ng voucher na ito," Angara said during the post-SONA (State of the Nation Address) education dialogue. (We've filed both civil and criminal cases—not just to recover the money, but to give what is right for legitimate voucher recipients. The "ghost student" issue involved false claims for non-existent enrollees under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE), particularly its SHS voucher program. While the Commission on Audit (COA) initially flagged P65 million in such claims, Angara said the amount being investigated has since ballooned. "Hindi lang P65 [million], parang mas malaki pa yata—nasa P100 [million] na yata (It's not just P65 million—it may already be closer to P100 million)," he said. "Continuous ang aming investigation diyan, at paano palakasin ang sistema para wala nang makakadaya nito. Hindi maganda na itong mga programa sa ating kabataan ay pinaglalaruan lang," he added. (Our investigation is ongoing. We're working to strengthen the system so it can't be cheated. These programs for our youth should never be toyed with.) Teacher subsidies Armed with a P50-billion budget, the voucher program allows qualified Grade 10 completers to study in private senior high schools with government subsidies. "Kailangan po natin ang tulong ng private schools. Kalahating milyon ang nag-aaral sa kanila—500,000—at binabayaran po natin 'yan. May savings pa po tayo dahil mas mura ang private school kaysa public kung minsan," Angara said. (We need the support of private schools. Around half a million students are enrolled—and we cover the cost. We have savings because private school can be cheaper than public schools sometimes.) To retain teachers and keep private schools afloat, Angara said the annual teacher subsidy under the Educational Service Contracting (ESC) program will be increased from P18,000 to P24,000 by 2026. Computers for classrooms Meanwhile, the DepEd plans to deploy computers and laptops to 46,000 public classrooms in the country. These units were procured under previous contracts but left undelivered due to past delays. "Nagdi-deliver na po tayo sa 46,000 public schools nationwide... tulong po ito ng AFP... sila po 'yung nag-deliver nationwide para masiguradong makarating 'yung mga kagamitan," Angara said. (We're delivering to 46,000 public schools nationwide, with the help of the AFP, to ensure the equipment actually reaches schools.) The DepEd chief said schools that joined the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) were prioritized after results showed students struggled not just with reading—but with basic computer use. "Kung gusto natin iangat ang kalidad ng edukasyon, kailangan po natin ang tulong ng teknolohiya," he said. (If we want to improve the quality of education, we need leverage technology.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
29-07-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
DOH targets 95% of every 2 million children fully-vaccinated
The Department of Health (DOH) aims to have 95% of every 2 million Filipino children fully vaccinated yearly. During the post-SONA Discussion on Tuesday, DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa shared that vaccinations were one of the most important public health programs. The DOH intends to seek the help of local government units to achieve this target. 'Worth it na maprevent yung vaccine-preventable illness kasi diyan namamatay yung ating mga kabataan pag di sila nabakunahan… Ang target niyan kada taon, dapat 95% ng about 2 million children makukumpleto yung about 16 vaccines [before 2 years old],' he shared. (It is worth it to prevent vaccine-preventable illness because it is what kills our children if they are unvaccinated… The target yearly is that 95% of about 2 million children has to complete about 16 vaccines [before 2 years old].) 'Ang plano namin dito, tulong-tulong ito. Binibili ng pamahalaan, ng national government ang iba't-ibang klaseng bakuna. So ang kailangan namin tulong dito is the help of the local government and vaccine teams,' he added. (Our plan here is to help each other. The government buys different types of vaccines. Who we need help from is the local government and vaccine teams.) Complete and speedy vaccination for children were among President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s calls for the health department during his 4th State of the Nation Address on Monday. Herbosa said the DOH has planned several programs such as school aid vaccinations, vaccine catch-ups and HPV vaccine drives to help complete vaccination targets. 'The government will pay for this sa lahat ng eskwelahan, babakunahan lahat ng mga bata. So kailangan namin ng tulong, mga volunteers, even the rotary clubs. This vaccination will happen with the help of local government, civil society, pati military and private sector para lahat ng bata kailangan mabakunahan,' he said. (The government will pay for this in all schools, so we can vaccinate all the children. We need help from volunteers, even rotary clubs. This vaccination will happen with the help of local government, civil society, even military and private sector so all of the children can be vaccinated.) During the discussion, Herbosa also debunked claims that there were many individuals who were against vaccinations in the country. 'Nagpa-survey kami at nakita namin 85% of mothers gustong mabakunahan ang kanilang mga anak… Madami conspiracy theory kung ano daw nilalagay sa bakuna. Hindi po totoo yan,' he said. (We ran a survey and found that 85% of mothers want their children vaccinated… There are a lot of who have conspiracy theories that many things are being put into vaccines. That's not true.) 'Akala lang natin maingay sa social media but most mothers gusto nilang mabakunahan ang mga anak nila. So our job is to buy the vaccines, make sure nasa LGU siya at make sure pagpupunta sa health center may bakuna yung ating mga Kabataan,' he continued. (We just think they are loud on social media, but most mothers want their children vaccinated. Our job is to buy the vaccines, make sure that the LGU has them, and make sure that our youth will be able to get them when they go to health centers.) Meanwhile, Herbosa noted that booster vaccines for school-age children and further vaccines for senior citizens are also part of the National Immunization Program. 'Whole of society [approach] ito… Kailangan talaga ng coordination with the local health system, with the local mayors, with the local city health officer, municipal health officer at pati yung civil society,' Herbosa said. (This is a whole of society [approach]… We really need coordination with the local health system, with the local mayors, with the local city health officer, municipal health officer, and even civil society.) — BAP, GMA Integrated News
