House Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera-Dy wants an investigation on the bidding process of the Department of Education’s purchase of 39,000 laptop computers for teachers.
“We received information that the contract was practically secured by the second-lowest bidder at almost P2.3 billion, which is P167 million higher than the bid of the lowest bidder,” Herrera-Dy said.
“This is quite alarming and unacceptable because the P167 million that the government stands to lose from this project could be used elsewhere, especially during this pandemic,” she added.
“Bakit naman ang laptop bag at hindi ang specs ng computer ang naging basehan sa pag-award ng contract sa pagbili ng laptop computers para sa mga guro natin sa public school? Nang dahil lang sa bag?” Herrera asked.
(Why the laptop bag and not the laptop specifications became the basis for the awarding of contract in this procurement? Just because of a bag?)
DepEd’s procurement of laptops for teachers questioned
Herrera-Dy claimed that the lowest bidder was disqualified for allegedly not complying with the requirements, including the required specification for the carrying bag. The bag needs to be made with ballistic nylon, but the lowest bidder submitted as a sample a bag made from 100 percent polyester.
The Congress should do something “to prevent the government from getting shortchanged in procurement projects using people’s money,” the solon said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) eyes to open the school year 2021-2022 under enhanced blended learning in either August or September.
DepEd issued the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte disapproved of the proposed limited face-to-face classes in areas with a low risk of COVID-19 transmission.
“We will release the final school calendar for School Year 2021-2022 once we get the final approval of the President. We are proposing that he choose among either August 23, 2021, September 6, 2021, or September 13, 2021,” the DepEd said.
An enhanced blended learning scheme is a combination of online classes and printed modules.
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