On Sunday, July 4, the Department of Education (DepEd) issued clarification on its use and disbursement of the P4.35 billion funds allotted in basic education, under Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, popularly known as Bayanihan 2, saying that around 90 percent of the funds for distance learning have already been “successfully obligated and disbursed”.
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This is in response to the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines’ claim over the agency’s failure to obligate some P1.744-billion Bayanihan 2 allotment for distance learning needs.
Last week, ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio described DepEd’s failure “to obligate about 40 percent of the P4.3 billion allocation of Bayanihan 2 to the agency’s distance learning needs as an “epic fail.”
Contrary to misinformed claims, the Department has obligated P3.821 billion of the funds with P3.751 billion of these disbursed already. The utilization rate is expected to increase once field offices submit their final report,
the DepEd said.
It also added that out of the estimated 10 percent unobligated funds, P152 million was savings from procurement while the P250 million was due to failed bidding.
For the remaining funds, the agency said that field offices are expected to submit their “reports of obligations and disbursement.”
DepEd released a breakdown of its allocation of the P4.35-billion Bayanihan 2 fund and its use:
1. Provision of Laptops for Teachers – P 2.4 billion
2. Internet Connectivity Load -P 1.2 billion
3. DepEd TV and Radio – P300 million
4. Learning Modules – P150 million
5. Provision of Laptops for Teachers – P 2.4 billion
DepEd said that it has practiced due diligence in adhering to the government’s procurement process for transparency and accountability despite the magnitude and complexity of the projects. It also has tapped the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS) as its procuring entity since it has more expertise on the process.
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DepEd: “90% of P4.35-B Bayanihan 2 funds for distance learning already obligated, disbursed”
Reviewed by Issues PH
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July 05, 2021
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Reviewed by Issues PH
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July 05, 2021
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