Press Release
October 16, 2021

Gatchalian to DepEd: improve utilization of funds for computerization program

The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to receive a 94% budget hike for its Computerization Program (DCP) under fiscal year 2022. For Senator Win Gatchalian, however, the education department should ensure that funds are properly used to procure and provide computers for the country's public schools.

For 2019 and 2020, DepEd was only able to disburse 27% of its available appropriations under the DCP. Under the 2022 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the DCP is set to receive P11.65 billion. For Fiscal Year 2021, the program has an allocation of P6 billion. While Gatchalian supports the budget hike, he emphasized that proper spending of the program's funds is needed to ensure learning continuity through digital methods.

"Looking at the past experience of the department in terms of dispensing the budget on computerization, I've noted that it has some issues in terms of obligations and disbursement," said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

According to the 2020 Commission on Audit (COA) report on DepEd, only 7,555 or 16.29% out of the targeted 38,827 Information and Communications Technology (ICT) packages were delivered as of year-end 2020. These ICT packages were funded under the DCP by the General Appropriations Acts for Fiscal Years 2018-2020.

The COA also flagged delays in the delivery of DCP packages for Fiscal Year 2020, which ranged from 60-317 calendar days. The approved budget for the contract (ABC) for these packages was P2.37 billion. State auditors noted that these delays adversely affected the program's objectives of enhancing the teaching-learning process and raising the ICT literacy of learners and educators.

In 2019, state auditors flagged supplier woes and the readiness of schools to receive ICT packages. Some schools were not ready to receive the packages because they lacked multi-media or computer rooms, proper electrical groundings, wirings and circuit breakers, and window grills.

ICT coordinators also reported how some suppliers did not provide after-sales services. Some of them could no longer be reached through their contact details, making it possible for them to escape liability.

"We really have to pay attention to the suppliers if they can supply honestly because with P11 billion, your (DepEd's) hands will be full in terms of procuring all these equipment," Gatchalian said.

The lawmaker is also filing a bill that will accelerate the digital transformation of the education sector.

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Gatchalian: Pagpapatupad sa DepEd Computerization Program kailangang ayusin

Para sa taong 2022, siyamnapu't apat (94) na porsyento ang itataas ng pondo ng Department of Education Computerization Program (DCP) kung ihahambing sa pondo ngayong taon. Ngunit para kay Senador Win Gatchalian, dapat tiyakin ng Department of Education (DepEd) na nagagamit nang maayos ang pondo para sa pagbili at pagpapamahagi ng mga computer sa mga pampublikong paaralan sa bansa.

Noong 2019 at 2020, wala pang tatlumpung (27) porsyento ang average na nagastos mula sa kabuuang pondo ng kagawaran para sa DCP. Sa ilalim ng 2022 National Expenditure Program (NEP), nakatakdang makatanggap ang DCP ng 11.65 bilyong piso. Nitong 2021, anim (6) na bilyong piso ang inilaan para sa naturang programa. Bagama't suportado ni Gatchalian ang pagtaas ng budget, binigyang diin niya na dapat tiyakin ang tamang paggastos ng pondo lalo na't kinakailangan ito para sa digital education.

"Kung babalikan natin ang karanasan ng kagawaran sa paggasta ng pondo para sa computerization, makikita natin na may mga isyu pagdating sa obligations at disbursement," pahayag ng Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Sa ulat ng Commission on Audit (COA) sa paggamit ng DepEd sa pondo nito noong 2020, wala pang walong libo (7,555) o 16.29 na porsyento lamang sa target na 38,827 na Information and Communications Technology (ICT) packages ang na-deliver sa kagawaran. Ang pondong nakalaan para sa mga ICT packages na ito ay mula sa mga taong 2018 hanggang 2020.

Pinuna rin ng COA ang mga delay sa delivery ng mga DCP packages para sa taong 2020. Animnapu (60) hanggang tatlong daan at labing-pitong (317) araw ang delay ng naturang delivery. Nagkakahalaga naman ng 2.37 bilyong piso ang naaprubahang pondo para sa mga kontrata ng packages na ito. Ayon sa COA, naapektuhan ng delay ang layunin ng programang paigtingin ang teaching-learning process at maiangat ang ICT literacy ng mga mag-aaral at mga guro.

Noong 2019 naman, pinuna na rin ng COA ang mga suliranin pagdating sa suppliers at ang kahandaan ng mga paaralang matanggap ang mga ICT packages. May ilang mga paaralang hindi handang tanggapin ang mga ICT packages dahil sa kawalan ng multimedia o computer rooms, angkop na electrical groundings, wirings at circuit breaker, at mga window grills.

May mga ICT coordinator din na inireklamo ang ilang mga supplier na hindi nagbigay ng after-sales service at hindi na makontak kaya naging posible para sa kanila ang tumakas mula sa responsibilidad.

"Dapat nating tutukan ang mga suppliers kung kaya ba nilang mag-suplay ng maayos at tapat, lalo na't magiging abala ang DepEd sa pagbili ng mga equipment na ito gamit ang labing-isang bilyong pisong pondo," ani Gatchalian.

Maghahain din si Gatchalian ng panukalang batas upang pabilisin ang digital transformation ng sektor ng edukasyon.

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