COA hits DepEd’s subpar performance in 2019

MANILA, Philippines — Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, public school teachers and students have already been coping with the lack of textbooks and instructional materials, computers and other required equipment, particularly for science and mathematics.

Worse, the Department of Education (DepEd), state auditors said, could not even keep up with the processes involved in filling the shortage although billions of pesos in taxpayers’ money had been allocated for the purpose.

In textbooks alone, the Commission on Audit (COA) said in its 2019 audit report that the DepEd failed to spend P1.03 billion meant for the textbooks and instructional materials program.

“The below-par overall accomplishment rate of 46.98 percent in the procurement and 17.96 percent in the delivery of manuscripts and the textbooks/learning materials, under its textbook and other instructional materials program for 2019, had deprived its learners and teachers of adequate and quality learning materials in the public schools nationwide,” state auditors said in their report.

“Out of the total allotments of P3,793,017,568.48, only 26.61 percent, or P1,009,339,311.82 was obligated and 4.19 percent, or P158,961,672.53, was disbursed, resulting in reversion of a total of P1,038,632,580.98,” the COA said.

The subpar performance was mainly due to the “extensive and meticulous” procurement requirements but auditors also noted that the process began late, starting only in October 2019 when it was supposed to have been done from April to July 2019.

“Hence, it is clear that completing the procurement activities [up to issuance of notice to proceed] and the deliveries of the learning materials to recipient schools could not be made within the year,” state auditors said.

Lackluster

The DepEd Computerization Program also lacked luster with the DepEd accomplishing only 59.43 percent of its target after the COA noted that only 8,523 out of 14,342 targeted schools were provided with information and communication technology (ICT) packages from 2015 to 2019.

State auditors conceded that some problems were caused by typhoons and other uncontrollable events, but many instances pointed to management issues.

The audit body inspected the ICT packages delivered to recipient schools, and auditors found that some schools were not even ready for the packages because of the lack of computer rooms, proper and sufficient electrical grounding, wirings and circuit breaker, and window grills.

School ICT coordinators also reported that many suppliers did not provide after-sales services and some could not even be located or contacted after the sale.

The report also said some P3.2 billion in payments was not adequately supported by documentary requirements in violation of procurement rules.

The DepEd’s Science and Mathematics Equipment program also showed low fund utilization rates.