DepEd plans of replacing teachers’ outdated laptops

DepEd plans of replacing teachers’ outdated laptops

The Department of Education said that it is planning of replacing the outdated and pricey laptops of the teachers purchased through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) in 2021.

DepEd spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa said that they have to internally check the laptops and make a quick fix so they could be used; or to apply legal remedies for it.

“Kung talagang mabagal po talaga ‘yung mga computers and not up to par with what we wanted, ‘yan pong mga computers as far as I understand, ay covered pa rin ng warranty,” he said.

“What we will do, aside from addressing the concerns of the teachers now doon sa mabagal na computers, we will also, in coordination with PS-DBM,…we will invoke the warranty provision under contract dito sa supplier ng ating laptops,” he added.

Poa clarified that there is no directive yet to replace the said laptops.

“Wala pa po tayo doon. We will be evaluating muna,” he said.

“Now, if proven that the laptops delivered do not perform as they should be as purchased, we will then consider available legal remedies — which is to invoke the warranty provision.”

One of the recommendations of the COA when they flagged DepEd was for the agency to “evaluate the concerns raised by the recipients on the conditions, performance, and technical specifications of the laptops and communicate the same to DBM-PS for appropriate action.”

If the DepEd invokes the warranty provisions with the laptop supplier, Poa said that they will check if there is still anything that could be done regarding the laptops or they have to be replaced already.

“We are trying to remedy the situation with this one kasi malamang, ito ‘yung gagamitin nila for this coming school year,” he continued.

Poa stressed that the funds used were under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) to aid the teachers with their remote classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“‘Yung funds na nagamit dito sa pagbibili ng laptops natin ay galing sa Bayanihan 2. This was not an original program of the DepEd, although siyempre gusto nating i-digitize ang ating teachers noon because andiyan ‘yung COVID, madaming lockdowns, remote ‘yung schooling. That was the purpose of the laptops,” he said.

He said they are also waiting for PS-DBM’s documentation on the price basis of the laptops.

“‘Yun yung hinihintay natin sa PS-DBM, kung ano ang basehan ng presyo, as well as the technical specs. Kailangan nating makuha ‘yung documentation [we are waiting for the PS-DBM’s documentation on what is the basis of the price, as well as the technical specs]. It would be unfair for us to say something without the proper documentation on hand,” Poa said.

“Sinisiguro po namin sa inyo na ang DepEd is now coordinating closely with the Commission on Audit. We are also coordinating closely with the new administration of PS-DBM para masagot yung AOM (audit observation memorandum) at maibigay ‘yung document na kinakailangan pa po ng COA,” he added.