Alan Cayetano seeks Senate probe on ‘overpriced’ DepEd laptops

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has filed a resolution seeking an investigation into the alleged overpriced and outdated entry-level laptops purchased for public school teachers for the implementation of distance learning.

According to a statement released Friday, Cayetano filed Senate Resolution No. 134 on Thursday, calling on the Senate blue ribbon committee to conduct an investigation into the matter.

This came after state auditors flagged the Department of Education (DepEd) for purchasing supposedly pricey laptops amounting to P2.4 billion, resulting in the procurement of fewer units and depriving over 28,000 teachers of the benefit.

In a statement, Cayetano said there is “an urgent need for the Senate to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the issue” and why it had taken so long.

He said there was a nine-month delay in the procurement of the laptops as the contract was awarded in June 2021 but the laptops were distributed in August.

Further, according to the senator, the public has “mourned government failure in curbing corruption” in previous administrations.

“There is a pressing need to ensure that the hard-earned money of taxpayers are put to good use, especially during this time of pandemic, and that the goals of the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act are achieved,” Cayetano said.

He said the Senate must also look into the “evident discrepancy” between the P4 billion allocation for the implementation of Digital Education, Information Technology (IT) and Digital Infrastructures and Alternative Learning Modalities and the P2.4 billion contract price for the laptops.

“In order to build our nation, we have to stand for what is right. Ang tama ay tama, at ang mali ay mali,” he said.

“It is high time to meet the issues head-on, determine where accountability lies. Dapat malaman ng taumbayan kung mayroong pagkakamali, saan nagkamali at paano maitatama ang mali,” he added.

GMA News Online has sought the comment of DepEd spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa in a Viber message but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

The Education Department has previously said that it is looking at the possibility of replacing the “outdated and pricey” laptops of the teachers.

The agency has also said that it welcomes the congressional probe on the laptops purchased through the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service.

“DepEd believes that this matter needs to be resolved immediately, and we submit to the process as we commit to transparency and accountability—even if the issue only involves an Audit Observation Memorandum, which requires the submission of documents to the Commission of Audit (COA),” the agency said. — RSJ, GMA News