SENATE minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III has filed a resolution urging the Blue Ribbon Committee to conduct an inquiry on the alleged overpriced and outdated laptops procured by the Department of Education through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management.
In filing Senate Resolution No. 120 last Wednesday, Pimentel said there is a need for the DepEd and PS-DBM to explain why there were changes in unit price, specifications, and number of units procured.
Pimentel said the DepEd should also explain “the subsequent approval and acceptance of DepEd of these laptops that are not in accordance with its budget and its original technical specifications to the detriment of our public school teachers and their students.
“When the procurement process is plagued with problems such as deficiencies, irregularities, and corruption, the government loses a huge amount of money. But corruption in public procurement is not just about losing money. It also reduces the quality of work or services rendered by the government to the people, in this case, our child learners,” Pimentel said in the resolution.
The Commission on Audit questioned the DepEd after it was found the department paid P58,300 for each laptop even as the approved budget was set for P35,046.50 per unit, an excess of P23,253.50 per unit.
The laptops were intended for use by public school teachers so they can hold online classes after face-to-face learning was suspended due to the pandemic in 2020.
“The huge difference of P23,253.50 per unit price resulted in significant decrease by 28,917 laptop computers, purportedly for distribution to intended recipient-teachers which could have helped them in performing their tasks in the blended learning set-up,” the COA said.
DepEd intended to provide laptop computers to 68,500 public school teachers but only 39,583 were given due to the price adjustment. A P2.4 billion budget was allotted for the purchase of the laptops.
“Aside from the foregoing, COA flagged the lack of documentary requirements to support the fund transfer to the PS-DBM of P2.4 billion budget which remained unliquidated at yearend 2021; the non-posting of the notices, contract award and other documents on DepEd’s official website; and non-submission of the required documents for the awarded procurement contract for the teachers’ laptops,” Pimentel added.
The supplier of the laptops said these were fully compliant with the technical specifications provided by the DepEd and the PS-DBM.
In a statement, the joint venture (JV) of Sunwest Construction and Development Corp. (SCDC) and LDLA Marketing & Trading, Inc. said the supplied 39,583 laptops for public school teachers were competitively priced and performed according to their intended use.
“The PS-DBM solicited bids for the supply and delivery of laptop computers with very specific technical requirements. As qualified bidders, we made an offer and won the comprehensive and competitive bidding fair and square. As of early this year, all units have been delivered to Deped regional offices throughout the Philippines,” the group said.
“We are ready and willing to participate in any proceedings where we will be given the opportunity to show that our product is reliable and capable for its intended use,” the group said. — With Angela Celis
