According to the Commission on Audit (COA), the Department of Education (DepEd) spent P2.4 billion on outdated and expensive laptops for instructors in order to deploy distance learning in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
State auditors criticized DepEd for spending P2.4 billion on laptops through the Department of Budget and Management’s Procurement Service (DBM-PS) when there are more affordable and superior options available in the market in its annual audit report for the agency for 2021.
According to COA, the acquisition of the more expensive computers led to the procurement of fewer machines than those within budget, depriving nearly 28,000 teachers of the benefit.
Moreover, COA said, “Based on the initial feedbacks we gathered from the auditors in the NCR and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), they stated that the delivered laptop computers by the winning bidder are too slow because the processor is …. outdated; and the price is too high based on the specifications as attached to the DepEd Memorandum.”
DepEd reached a settlement and approved of the cost and technical requirements given by DBM-PS, State auditors reported.
Furthermore, COA made a point that “Per available documents, the Audit Team could not ascertain the DBM-PS’ basis for adopting the unit price of P58,300. Apparently, the supposed number of laptops to be procured of 68,500 units was significantly reduced to 39,583 units which was mainly due to the huge increase of estimated cost P35,046 to P58,300 anchored on the DBM-PS’ recommendation, which was duly accepted by the DepEd.”
COA said, “The price per unit is pricey for an entry-level type of laptop which resulted in significant decrease in the number of units provided to intended users. The huge difference of P23,253 per unit price resulted in a significant decrease by 28,917 laptop computers. Consequently, an estimated 28,917 teachers were deprived of the possible benefits from the supposed provision of these laptops.”
Additionally, COA said that the final price of P58,000 for each laptop unit is not in the DepEd’s best interest, given that the DBM-PS held a bid for a mid-range model in May 2021 and discovered that there is a less expensive option for purchasing laptops at P45,431 per unit.
“Clearly, the price [scouted in May 2021] is cheaper and the performance of that computer would be way faster/better than the laptop procured by the Department during that same period [in 2020],” COA clarified.
State auditors were making reference to a time when DepEd also hired DBM-services PS’s on June 16, 2020, leading to DepEd buying brand-new laptops with a better processor and for only P32,500 per unit, which is still less expensive than the P58,000 per unit purchased in 2021.
According to COA, “The base price of the same model of … laptop available in the market with a better screen currently monitored by the Audit Team revealed that the said model ranges from P22,490.00 up to P25,000.00 only.”
The second lowest calculated bidder, according to COA, received the contract for the purchase of a laptop at a price of P58,000.
State auditors expressed, “Both the 1st and 2nd lowest calculated bidders had filed their Motion for Reconsideration but only the latter’s motion had been granted by the DBM-PS. However, the Declaration of Bid as Responsive and Recommending Award of Contract did not specify the reasons for granting the 2nd lowest calculated bidder’s motion.”
According to COA, the DepEd Central Office’s financial accounts as of the end of 2021 show that P2.4 billion was still unliquidated as a result of the DBM’s failure to provide supporting documentation. -PS.
Despite the fact that the anticipated price was based solely on DepEd’s first approved sum of P35,046.50, COA demanded that DepEd justify its decision to accept the P58,300 laptop price per unit.
But according to COA, management, i.e. DepEd, failed to provide responses on the other suggestions made by state auditors.
The DepEd official who was asked for comment as of right now hasn’t responded.
