Manila, Feb. 19 -- Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday called for improvements in the Department of Education's (DepEd) billing system after revelations of alleged ghost beneficiaries in the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP).

The SHS-VP is a financial assistance program providing vouchers ranging from PHP14,000 to PHP22,500 to incoming Grade 11 students who choose to enroll in private senior high schools.

Students from public schools automatically receive the aid, while those from private institutions must apply if they are not covered by DepEd's Education Service Contracting Program.

Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said DepEd's recent crackdown on ineligible recipients validates findings f...