Following the overpriced laptop computer fiasco, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday stated that it’s going to examine one other allegation claiming that the company bought overpriced cameras in 2019.
DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa stated in a tv interview that he’ll look into the matter earlier than giving additional feedback, as it’s nonetheless unsure to them which cameras had been being in contrast in a now-deleted put up of a photojournalist.
The put up confirmed a photograph of a Canon 1500D digital camera with a DepEd sticker connected, indicating an acquisition value of P155,929.
Other particulars such because the DSLR digital camera’s serial quantity, acquisition date, and accountable officer had been on the sticker.
“It was being claimed that sure cameras had been procured again in 2019, if I’m not mistaken. When I regarded into it, ang nasa image was an entry stage digital camera, however once I requested the Public Affairs Service concerning the cameras being utilized by DepEd, lahat naman po ‘yan Mark 4, so hindi po siya ‘yung entry level na camera,” Poa said in an interview on CNN Philippines.
(When I looked into it, the one in the picture was an entry level camera. However, when I asked the Public Affairs Service regarding the cameras being used by DepEd, they said the cameras were all Mark 4, not entry level cameras.)
“Definitely, maaasahan po ninyo (we assure you) that we will look into this,” he added.
Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) chairperson Vladimer Quetua on Wednesday also called on DepEd, along with the Congress and Commission on Audit (COA) to investigate the matter.
“Walang konsensya itong mga sangkot sa maling paggasta ng pera ng taumbayan na laan sana sa edukasyon ng mga kabataan. Pagnanakaw ito sa kinabukasan ng mga bata. Dapat lang na imbestigahan ito, tuntunin ang lahat ng nakinabang at kasapakat, at parusahan ayon sa batas,” Quetua said in a statement.
(People who were involved in this have no conscience for spending public funds that should have been allocated to the education of the youth. They are stealing from the children’s future. This should be investigated, and all those who benefited should be prosecuted and punished according to the law.)
“It is both enraging and demoralizing for teachers to hear of such anomalies while we feel everyday the scantiness of funds for education on the ground.”
Procurement
Quetua also called on Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to look into the matter, pointing out her promise of transparency and accountability when it comes to DepEd’s procurement course of when she introduced the Basic Education Report 2023 on Monday.
“Sec. VP Sara Duterte promised of addressing corruption in the DepEd in her Basic Education Report 2023. This matter only deserves her attention, as well as the many other possible controversial purchases in the department. Her promise will only be meaningful if we see that concrete actions on the anomalies are executed,” he stated.
In her report, Duterte admitted “cracks” in DepEd’s procurement practices, which she stated might hurt the company’s imaginative and prescient to offer learners with high quality fundamental schooling if left unresolved.
“The procurement practices at the Department of Education had red flags that demanded immediate actions,” she stated.
In a bid to unravel this downside, Duterte stated DepEd has established a separate strand devoted solely on issues of procurement.
DepEd’s Procurement Strand can be headed by Undersecretary Gerard Chan and Assistant Secretary Omar Alexander Romero.
“This strand is ordered to ensure that the delivery of services is done within the period required by law, following the processes mandated by law. Our intention here is to solve a problem that has permeated within the system and ensure that transparency and accountability are present,” Duterte stated.
On January 19, the Senate blue ribbon committee launched a report into the DepEd’s controversial procurement of laptops for public college lecturers in 2021, which confirmed that the contract for the provision and supply of the devices was overpriced by no less than P979 million.
Due to this, the Senate panel advisable graft and perjury expenses in opposition to some former and present officers of DepEd and the Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service (PS-DBM).
The report has to this point reached the plenary, with DepEd committing to cooperate with any proceedings that can ensue.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
