Ateneo de Naga University, as the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) Regional Secretariat for Region V, hosted the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) General Orientation Conference on the implementation of the ESC, TSS, and SHS Voucher Programs. The event was held at Villa Caceres Hotel, Naga City, on July 17, 2025.
Spearheaded by the PEAC and hosted by Ateneo de Naga University under the leadership of Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, SJ, University President and PEAC Regional Program Director (RPD), with the support of Dr. Arnulfo Aaron R. Reganit, PEAC Regional Program Coordinator, the orientation provided updates on PEAC’s initiatives and the implementation guidelines for the three key programs.
Fr. Dy, now in his second year as RPD for Region V, officially welcomed the 456 participants. In his remarks, he highlighted their vital role in shaping the future of education and encouraged them to voluntarily undergo school certification to assure and maintain quality standards.
Messages of appreciation and encouragement were delivered by Dr. Betty Cernol-McCann, President of Silliman University and the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities (ACSCU); Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary, Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara; and Marco Alfredo M. Benitez, President of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU). They commended the private schools’ commitment to educational excellence and urged them to continue nurturing the minds of young learners.
DepEd Regional Director Gilbert Sadsad emphasized the Department’s shared responsibility with PEAC in addressing the evolving challenges in the 21st-century educational landscape.
PEAC Executive Director Rhodora Angela F. Ferrer, PhD, presented updates on the GASTPE Workplan, including statistics on the number of grantees, subsidies, and certification activities. She acknowledged the region’s improvements in program implementation and its strong overall performance.
During the conference, ESC-certified schools for School Year 2024–2025 were formally recognized. The ESC Program is a DepEd initiative aimed at decongesting public junior high schools by partnering with private institutions. Certification indicates compliance with DepEd standards and successful completion of PEAC’s prescribed self-study process.
Grevered L. Gallego, Unit Head of Organizational Planning and Quality Assurance, discussed Information Security and Data Privacy Protection. He reminded educators of their responsibility in handling student data securely, cautioning: “Do not collect what you cannot protect.”
Patrick del Rosario, Unit Head of Certification, introduced the 2024 Certification Assessment Instrument, while Rodrick Edsel B. Malonzo, Unit Head of the Monitoring and Processing Unit, detailed the billing process and management system requirements for participating schools. He also outlined the eligibility criteria and documentation needed for ESC and TSS grantees.
The conference concluded with an open forum, where participants actively engaged in a question-and-answer session, receiving clarifications and insights from the speakers.
Written by Azenith Flor A. Santorce and Jan Adriele B. Francisco
