The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office IX urged all Pantawid Pamilya grade 10 completers to avail the Senior High voucher program of the Department of Education thru online registration.

Based on the generated results of Compliance Verification System in Region IX, there are more than 23,000 monitored children who have completed their junior high school education in 655 high school facilities region wide.

The registration in the said program will ensure educational financial support for senior high school. Qualified recipients who came from Public JHS and SUC/LUC Junior High Schools are entitled for 100% voucher value. Meanwhile, 80% full voucher value shall be given to Grade 10 ESC grantees who have completed their Junior High School in ESC participating schools.

The SHS VP is a mechanism to provide financial assistance to senior high school students in line with Deped Order no. 11 series of 2015. It envisions to be a long-term program of the government that will empower students with choice to pursue their desired senior high school education. This form of public-private partnership is expected to enhance dynamism and diversity in the education system and to provide private schools with financial resources needed to transition to a 12-year basic education system.

DSWD Regional Director, Atty.Araceli F. Solamillo encouraged all Pantawid Pamilya high school beneficiaries to apply and grab the opportunity to get the educational support through the voucher program and enroll in Senior High School ready facilities nearest to their area. She stressed out that the upcoming senior high beneficiaries will still be monitored and education compliance shall have a great effect once they failed to enroll considering the limited senior high ready facilities in the region.

DSWD has already enforced all municipal and city links to assist the Pantawid children in their online application. These beneficiaries are reminded that the deadline for application shall only be until May 6, 2016.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program has expanded its coverage for children beneficiaries until 18 years of age or until it finishes high school. The said expansion sought to prepare the beneficiaries to be equipped in the future by acquiring skills which complemented in the Kto12 program of DepEd. ##