Teachers call on DepEd, COA to probe allegedly pricey cameras

Renato Reyes. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The teachers’ group Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has called on the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Audit (COA) to investigate the alleged overpricing of the procurement of cameras for the agency.

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. revealed that a DSLR camera procured by the DepEd cost a staggering P155,929, while the market value of the same item is only between P24,000 and P31,000.

ACT chairman Vladimer Quetua said Vice President and concurrent DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio should investigate the allegations of corruption in the agency, as she had promised to address such issues in her Basic Education Report 2023.

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“This matter only deserves her attention, as well as the many other possible controversial purchases in the department. Her promise will only be meaningful if we see that concrete actions on the anomalies are executed,” Quetua said in a statement on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

Quetua called “disheartening” the latest allegation of overpricing as the agency still reels from the issue of overpriced laptops.

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“After the certified overpriced bulk purchase of laptops as found by the Senate investigation, now came pieces of evidence pointing to overpricing on purchase of cameras by the DepEd central office and some field offices.

“It is disheartening that the agency which is supposed to inculcate honesty and judicious use of money among the young generation has been swarmed with anomalies,” Quetua also said.

/ra/abc