Villar airs concern on ‘double payment’ for students in farm schools

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Cynthia Villar on Friday shared her observation on the supposed “double payment” for students’ enrollment in farm schools.

During the hearing of a Senate subcommittee on finance on the proposed budget of DepEd for 2021, Senator Imee Marcos was asking DepEd on the alleged “ghost students” whom the Commission on Audit found in 2019 to have received tuition fee subsidy from the government when Villar raised her concern.

“Nakita ko rin ‘yan kasi I am very particular about the farm schools. I attend the farm schools and ‘yung TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) ay sinasubsidize niya ‘yung mga bayad sa farm schools for the students,” Villar said.

(I saw that too because I am very particular about farm schools. I attend farm schools and TESDA subsidizes the payment for student’s enrollment in farm schools.)

“Nakita ko ‘yan in one of the inattendan ko na farm schools. Itong private school ine-enroll nila sa Grade 11 and 12 ‘yung mga students na technical also,” she added.

Citing her observation, Villar then said it seems that both DepEd and TESDA are paying for the students’ enrollment in farm schools.

“So binabayaran sila ng DepEd doon, and at the same time ine-enrol pa rin nila doon sa aming farm school. Babayaran din sila ng TESDA doon so double payment, kaya I am just interjecting kasi nakita ko ‘yan with my own eyes,” she said.

(So DepEd was paying for their enrollment, and at the same time, they are being enrolled in the farm schools. They will also be paid for by TESDA so there is double payment. I am just interjecting because I saw it in my own eyes.)

“Nagpunta ako sa farm school, sabi ko bakit ba ang mga bata, itong mag-aaral na ito ay TESDA ito, dapat ito ‘yung mga magtatrabaho after the courses. Nadiskubre ko, it is coming from a high school na ineenrol ulit doon para dalawa ang payment nila. May payment sila sa TESDA, may payment sila doon sa subsidy sa Grade 11 and 12 na mga private schools,” she added.

(I went to the farm school, and I noticed that these students should be from TESDA and should work after the courses. I discovered that they are coming from a high school that enrolls them again to make two payments. There is payment from TESDA and those for Grade 11 and 12.) [ac]