MANILA – Ipinahayag ng Department of Education (DepEd) nitong Huwebes na nagsumite ito ng mga kinakailangang dokumento bilang tugon sa na-flag ng Commission on Audit (COA) na pagpapatupad ng distance learning procurement noong 2021, partikular sa PHP2.4-bilyong halaga ng diumano’y mahal ngunit luma na mga laptop para sa mga guro.
Sa isang joint press briefing, sinabi ng tagapagsalita ng Edukasyon na si Michael Poa na tumugon sila sa Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM), na iginiit niyang isang bagay na hindi “conclusive”.
“We are aware that some time on March 22, the DepEd was in receipt of an audit observation (memorandum), AOM, issued by COA. What I know is we have already submitted the documentary requirements na hinihingi po nila. We’re just waiting for feedback from COA, because ‘yung AOM, finding lang naman po ‘yan, it doesn’t mean that it’s conclusive,” aniya.
Ayon sa taunang pag-audit, 28,917 guro ang “nawalan” ng benepisyo sa pagbili ng laptop, dahil ang mga biniling unit ay nagkakahalaga ng PHP58,300 bawat isa; habang ang mga nag-avail ay nakaranas ng mabagal na takbo ng laptop, dahil sa “outdated processor” nito.
“The Audit Team could not ascertain the DBM-PS’ basis for adopting the unit price of P58,300. Apparently, the supposed number of laptops to be procured of 68,500 units was significantly reduced to 39,583 units which was mainly due to the huge increase of estimated cost from P35,046 to P58,300 anchored on the DBM-PS’ recommendation, which was duly accepted by the DepEd,” wika ng COA.
Sinabi ni Poa na handa silang makipagtulungan sa COA upang magbigay ng mga kinakailangang tugon, pati na rin ang pagsuri sa lahat ng iba pang usapin sa pagpapatupad ng distance learning.
“Definitely, we will look into what really happened then, according to the comments or responses given by the DepEd, as a whole, there were several instances wherein there were delays in procurement because of the surges last year. You know it. We were there (in that situation) last year. Omicron variant. So we will look into it… we’ll see what’s the final determination of COA. We will always work with COA po, for the improvement of processes here in DepEd,” wika niya.
