Required documents sent by DepEd to COA in response to flagged pricey laptops with outdated processors

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, August 4, has already submitted the necessary requirements asked by the Commission on Audit (COA) concerning the Php 2.4-billion worth of “pricey yet outdated” laptops that the agency bought for its teachers in 2021.

We are aware that some time on March 22, the DepEd was in receipt of an audit observation (memorandum), AOM, issued by COA. What I know is we have already submitted the documentary requirements na hinihingi po nila. We're just waiting for feedback from COA, because 'yung AOM, finding lang naman po 'yan, it doesn't mean that it's conclusive,

Education spokesperson Michael Poa said in a press briefing.

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Based on the annual audit, teachers did not benefit much from the procurement of laptops amounting to Php 58,300, whereas those who availed have experienced slow laptop speed because of its outdated processor.

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 from P35,046 to P58,300 anchored on the DBM-PS' recommendation, which was duly accepted by the DepEd,

COA said.

Poa said the agency is prepared to work with COA to provide needed responses, as well as check all other matters on the implementation of distance learning.