THE Department of Education (DepEd) failed to spend P14.497 billion allocations in 2022 intended for computerization, acquisition of equipment, basic education facilities, and hiring if teachers and non-teaching personnel, state auditors revealed.
According to the 2022 audit of DepEd released last August 24, P12.97 billion or 89 percent of the unutilized funding was under the DepEd Central Office (CO), including P9.113 billion for the Computerization Program; P2.13 billion earmarked for Learning Tools and Equipment; P1.048 billion for the School Furniture Program and water sanitation facilities; and P675.75 million for textbooks and instructional materials.
The COA noted that E-Classroom packages worth P8.151 billion were supposed to be delivered as of December 2022 but “no procurement activity was made during the year,” contributing a significant amount of unutilized funds under the DepEd-CO.
Under DepEd National Capital Region (NCR), the P1.069 billion allotment for the hiring of teaching and non-teaching personnel was also left untouched. Auditors said the unfilled plantilla positions were in the Schools Division Offices (SDOs) of Quezon City, Manilla, Valenzuela, Malabon, Navotas, Pasay, Pasig, Marikina, and San Juan.
In Mindanao, the SDOs of Surigao City and Surigao del Norte in Region 13 (Caraga) failed to use P156.08 million for procurement plans while SDO Cotabato did not spend P106.577 million that should have gone to hiring for vacant posts and unimplemented procurement.
On the other hand, DepEd Cordillera Administration Region had unused P76.89 million while DepEd Region 1 (Ilocos Region) had P61.796 million for textbooks and instructional materials and the Special Education Program.
Other DepEd offices also listed with idle funds were the SDOs of Romblon and Palawan in Region 4B (Mimaropa) with P21.58 million on unimplemented projects; SDO Kidapawan City with P16.346 million; DepEd Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) with P10.413 million; SDO Catanduanes with P8.335 million; and SDO Pangasinan II with P3.479 million.
Auditors said the DepEd’s failure to use funding allotments raises questions on the “efficient and effective management and utilization of its available budget and cash resources.
“Being an implementing arm of the government in promoting basic education, the existence of unobligated allotments reflects management’s inability to maximize the use of its authorized budgetary and cash requirements, thus depriving students of the maximum benefits,” the audit team said.
The DepEd-CO agreed that it has to identify and address lapses in its procurement procedures to ensure timely delivery of equipment.
It also committed to coming up with a catch-up plan for the implementation of delayed programs/projects/activities.
The regional units assured the COA that they would try to improve efficiency in the utilization of government funds and intensify the hiring of personnel for unfilled plantilla positions.
