THE Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) will look into the P2.4 billion worth of “outdated and pricey” laptops that it procured for the Department of Education (DepEd) last year.
PS-DBM Executive Director Dennis Santiago, in a statement, said his office “will fully cooperate” with concerned agencies to address a Commission on Audit (COA) report on the P2.4 billion worth of laptops that was procured in 2021.
“I shall instruct a thorough examination of the cost of the items involved, as well as its technical specifications. Should the records prove that there are indeed instances of non-compliance with the law and procurement rules, rest assured that we will never tolerate it,” he said.
Santiago added that part of their mandate is to ensure a transparent and competitive process while ensuring all procurement procedures are followed to avoid any irregularities and ensure a straightforward transaction.
The COA last week called attention to the purchase of laptops for teachers as part of the implementation of distance learning online classes amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
COA said the purchased equipment were “pricey and outdated” and resulted in lesser units purchased. The laptops were bought at P58,300, which resulted in the purchase of 39,583 units instead of the original target of 68,500 units.
The DepEd last week said it only received the laptops, adding it was the PS-DBM that handled the procurement.
