COA flags DepEd for questionable use of P8-B fund

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) was found to have deficiencies in spending P8.136 billion in funds for its Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) amid the pandemic.

These included lapses in budget utilization, noncompliance with the Government Procurement Reform Act, and issues on procurement, reproduction and delivery of self-learning modules.

“The existence of errors and deficiencies in the self-learning modules was an indication of the deficient planning on the preparation of self-learning modules, and procedural lapses in the checking/review and evaluation process/system of the division, thus adversely affecting the quality of the self-learning modules and the department’s objective of ensuring quality basic education,” the Commission on Audit (COA) said.

These deficiencies affected “the overall effective implementation of the BE-LCP” and the DepEd’s mandate to provide quality basic education amid the pandemic.

According to a 2020 DepEd audit report, the agency received P16.105 billion through special allotment release orders to fund the distance learning program.