THE Department of Education (DepEd) has a lot of explaining to do over issues regarding its handling of billions of pesos allocated to the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP).
Among the key findings in the 2020 audit report on the DepEd released last August 14 were lapses in budget utilization totaling P3.22 billion; delayed or non-submission of perfected contracts worth P2.4 billion; flawed, incomplete or delayed procurement and distribution or self-learning modules for students, P886.5 million; transactions non-compliant to RA 9184, P623.63 million; deficient documentation regarding BE-LCP, P545.65 million; disbursement and procurement with inadequate support documents, P439.93 million; and other deficiencies, P20.58 million.
Funding for the BE-LCP were released under RA No. 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or Bayanihan 1) and RA 11494 (Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2).
Questions regarding budget utilization centered on the delay in the release of BE-LCP funding to the Central Office and the Regional Offices Proper (ROPs), ranging from seven to 147 days.
The audit team noted that since the country is under a health crisis, prompt action by all government agencies was necessary to make adequate preparations possible.
In the case of DepEd, any setback in the release of funds can adversely affect the readiness of schools to provide uninterrupted learning during a schoolyear made more challenging by the pandemic.
The DepEd Management said the processing and approval of the Special Allotment Release Orders was prolonged because of manpower lack while travel restrictions were in place and the late submission of requests for downloading of funds from the Budget Division.
