DepEd again? House panel to investigate PHP 8-billion laptop deal

Another issue is haunting the Department of Education (DepEd), previously led by Vice President Sara Duterte—this time involving a multibillion-peso laptop deal.

File photo: Image edit of DepEd laptop

Rigged laptop deal?

Earlier this week, a House of Representatives panel sought to secure the bidding documents following claims of anomalies in the procurement of PHP 8 billion worth of laptops during the helm of Duterte.

The issue surfaced during a budget briefing on the department's proposed PHP 793.18-billion spending for next year.

Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro also wanted to include comments from teachers on the agency's computerization program, saying "I surmise the delivered computers might not be in good condition anymore."

This decision came after Assistant Majority Leader Raul Angelo Bongalon made an allegation that a "conspiracy" surrounded the bidding of laptops and other public school equipment during Duterte's term as education secretary. He said there were two rounds of bidding with the same interested parties. However, in the second bidding, the price of the items already increased.

For me, this was a rigged bidding. There was already a bidding. What I don’t understand is why it was discontinued. The government could have saved P1.6 billion [if the first bidding pushed through]. Let's say a laptop is worth P100,000 each. How many laptops could that have been bought? Bongalon said.

To recall, DepEd faced a similar issue in 2022 over overpriced laptops. A previous Facebook post also alleged that the agency purchased a Canon EOS 1500D DSLR camera for a whopping PHP 155,929 when its price only ranged from PHP 31,000 to almost over PHP 33,000.

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who replaced Duterte in July, said over 1.5 million items, including laptops, books, and classroom furniture, were stuck in warehouses since 2020.

Via: Inquirer, Philippine Star