BLUE RIBBON PRESENTS ESTABLISHED FACTS: Sen. Francis “Tol” Tolentino presides over the continuation of the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing summarizing the highlights of the investigation into the alleged overpriced and outdated laptops procured by the Department of Education. Senate PRIB photo / Voltaire F. Domingo
MANILA, Philippines — About 70 percent of the laptops intended for the Department of Education (DepEd) Central Office are still stored in a stock room.
State auditor Job Aguirre Jr. revealed the matter during Thursday’s Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on DepEd’s procurement of “pricey and outdated” laptops through the Department of Budget and Management – Procurement Service.
“We also noted undistributed laptops. Out of the 2,378 units of procured Dell laptops allocated to DepEd Central Office, 1,678 units remained in the Asset Management Division stock room [as of August 17, 2022],” Aguirre reported.
Senator Francis Tolentino, panel chairperson, was frustrated after knowing the situation, saying many teachers would have benefitted from the laptop units.
“Nakakalungkot ito. Nagamit sana ito kahit mabagal. Nakatambak du’n.
(This is saddening. It could have been used despite being slow. It was just stored there.)
“So, ibig sabihin 1,678 teachers would have benefitted. Per teacher, lagyan natin ng times 30 students, 48,000 students would have benefitted,” he said.
(So, this means that 1,678 teachers would have benefitted. Let’s say each teacher has 30 students; 48,000 students would have benefitted.)
Tolentino also noted that there are non-teaching personnel who received laptops such as engineers, medical officers, and accountants.
“Siguro na-defeat na rin ang purpose ng laptops for teaching personnel. Kung saan-saan na napunta,” the chairperson lamented.
(Maybe it defeats the purpose of laptops for teaching personnel. It went to various people.)
The Senate blue ribbon committee terminated its investigation on the issue after five rounds of hearings.