To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division/City Superintendents
Heads, Private Schools

1. In order to expand student access to quality secondary education, this Department, in a meeting with a group of representatives from the private schools and associations, decided to amend certain provisions of the Educational Service Contracting (ESC) and the Education Voucher System (EVS) Guidelines contained in DepED Memorandum No. 144, s. 2007. The amendments are as follows:
   • Educational Service Contracting
     1. For all ESC grantees from 1st to 4th Year levels, the subsidy shall be Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00) per grantee.
     2. Private schools with tuition and other fees of Twelve Thousand Pesos (PhP12,000.00) and above per year shall be allowed to participate in the program. In the awarding of additional slots, however, priority shall be given to participating private schools that are willing to condone the differential between the school fees and the subsidy.
     3. Incoming First Year ESC slots for participating private schools shall be equal to the number of First Year grantees in school year 2006-2007. Hence, First Year slot allocation of 40 slots per school shall no longer be applicable.
     4. Private elementary school graduates can now avail of ESC slots provided that: 1) the selection of beneficiaries shall be based on the family income wherein priority shall be given to applicants whose family income is not more than poverty level; and 2) the total number of grantees per region shall be distributed in such a way that 80% shall come from the public elementary schools and 20% from the private elementary schools.
   • Education Voucher System
     1. For all EVS grantees from 1st to 2nd Year levels, the subsidy shall be Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00) per grantee.
     2. An EVS grantee may enroll in any private school of his/her choice regardless of the amount of the tuition and other fees charged and whether or not the private school is located in a red/black coded area.
     3. EVS slots have been allocated per region on a pro-rata basis in accordance with the DepED’s list of priority areas, i.e., those with low participation rates and high classroom shortages. The regional allocation of EVS slots is enclosed.
     4. FAPE Regional Program Coordinators shall work with their respective Schools Superintendents or the Regional DepED Offices to provide an updated list of red/black coded areas and to determine the fastest and most efficient distribution scheme of EVS slots to public elementary school graduates given the fast approaching schedule of school opening.
2. All other provisions stated in DepED Memorandum No. 144, s. 2007 are expected to be implemented.
3. Immediate dissemination of and compliance with this Order is directed.

Encl.:
As stated
Reference: DepED Memorandum: (No. 144, s. 2007)
Allotment: 1- – D.O. 50-97

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
CHANGE
SECONDARY EDUCATION
STUDENTS
PROGRAMS

DO_s2007_037