UPDATE (August 5): The Department of Education in their official statement, clarified that they only received the laptops from Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM), saying that PS-DBM was its procuring entity for the said Php2.4B purchase of laptops for teachers initiative.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Department of Education (DepEd) for purchasing Php 2.4 billion worth of laptop for teachers that are ‘outdated and pricey’ in the implementation of distance learning amidst Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.
On its annual audit report on DepEd for 2021, the state auditors said that “the delivered laptop computers by the winning bidder are too slow because the processor (Intel Celeron) is outdated,” and that “the price is too high based on the specifications as attached to the DepEd Memorandum.”
The supposed number of laptops to be procured was initially 68,500 units, but was reduced to only 39,583 due to the influence of Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM-PS) who set out recommendations to increase estimated cost from Php 35,046 to Php 58,300 per unit.
“The price per unit is pricey for an entry-level type of laptop which resulted in significant decrease in the number of units provided to intended users,” COA said. “The huge difference of P23,253 per unit price resulted in a significant decrease by 28,917 laptop computers. Consequently, an estimated 28,917 teachers were deprived of the possible benefits from the supposed provision of these laptops.”
Despite having cheaper and better options at the time, DepEd agreed with the price and technical specifications as recommended by DBM-PS according to COA state auditors.
COA also cited a DBM-PS bidding during the same month in May 2021 that had better deal for mid-range type laptops tagged at only Php 45, 431.20 per unit. “Cleary, the price is cheaper and the performance… would be way faster/ better than the laptop procured by the Department during the same period,” the audit report stated.
As compared to other options available in the market, the likes of MacBook Air with the powerful Apple M1 chip, only costs Php 57,990 for the 8GB+256GB configuration. That’s only about 400 pesos difference versus the entry-level laptops that DBM-PS recommended.
Meanwhile, Intel Celeron is one of the cheapest processors that is usually built for budget computer hardware. There are laptops with Celeron chips inside that only cost under Php 20,000.
DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said in a press briefing, August 4, that they are already awaiting feedback from COA after the agency submitted “documentary requirements” regarding the laptops’ purchase.
“We are responding to whatever COA wants us to respond on. And then we’ll see kung ano iyong final determination ng COA,” Poa said. “We will always work and cooperate with COA for the improvement of our processes here in DepEd.”
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EDWARD ANTONIO says:
At almost 60k, that’s already AMD ryzen 7 or Intel Core 17 with 8GB RAM with SSD storage at 500 with a back up HD of 1T. These brand specs are more than enough for multitasking: PPT, video presentation, online research, Zoom or Google Meet, MS Teams, etc or any app with heavy operations requirement. Celeron is a crap worth LESS THAN 20K. Celeron is not just super slow and outdated. WE DONT USE THAT HERE ANYMORE. At 58k? Surely. something might be fishy.
redshift says:
First of all, the DepEd’s minimum CPU requirements were pretty vague. No mention of core or thread count or even the instruction set the CPU must use. So when the supplier mentions that they met minimum specific requirements they are technically correct.
Unfortunately for the teachers, they are left with no choice but to work with these trashy laptops. Can they throw Windows out and use Puppy Linux?
Edward says:
dell 3420 daw celeron 6350 1.8 Ghz 8 GB Intel UHD Graphics Xe 128Gb SSD Windows 10 hmmmm mabagal nga to bootup time siguro 2-3 minutes or more
Juan de la Cruz says:
I am very surprised that the biggest IT distributor in the Philippines VST ECS is part of this anomalous deal.
ANONYMOUS says:
CORRUPTION AT ITS BEST: MAS MAHAL PA SA BUDGET TIERED GAMING LAPTOP. GRABE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glenn R. says:
For that price (60k) you could buy an Apple MacBook Air with the M1 processor for only 48k, which is immensely more powerful than a laptop version of the i7 or even i9 from my experience. There’s clearly corruption going on here.
Jervie A says:
Unlike Celeron Processors, We Only Just Low-End To Expensive Laptops With Latest AMD And Core I3/5/7 Processors Is Much Better
My Laptop Used Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 15 (₱ 21,182.00)
With 10th Gen Core I3
Jane mariano says:
They so overpaid so the price cannot be accurate. Corruption everywhere in Pinas
Leo says:
got one of these unit..Maganda xa physically, premium look, backlit keyboard..yun nga pag ginamit mo super slow mag open ng apps, and first time refresh after opening- more than a second,…mas lumala pa nung inupdate ko to win11 free kasi….overall talaga parang jowa na maganda pero pangit yung ugali.
Nel says:
May mabulunan sana hayuk sa kayamanan madala Nyo sana sa langit yan
James baldos says:
Ung coteacher ko nakatanggap ng isa sa mga laptop na to kaso namomroblema cya sa bagal nya tas sasabihn niyo worth 60k+ yun? Presyong icore7 na un sa mall. 2billion pa ung budget edi sana mas nakadiscount p kc marami ung binili. Nagloloko nalang tayo dito… May kumita na naman dito.
Justin says:
Wag na kayong ma-gulat. Marami pang darating na ganyang balita, now that Sara is in charge of DepEd. Eh, yan ang binoto nyo, diba?
Emily Ignacio says:
Ano naman ang kinalaman ni VP Sara D diyan? Kaka assume pa lang niya ng position as deped sec. Kung may reklamo, sa tamang channel dalhin.
Rey says:
Ano naman ang kinalaman ng VP. Ireklamo mo sa VP kaysa manisi ka, dalhin mo yang laptop at mag-account ka ilan ang nakatanggap.
Hu Yu says:
So kumikback ka tas sayo ko magrereklamo. Patawa. Konting pag iisip naman jan.
Dain Oquendo says:
Broaddaylight robbery ang ginawa ng taga PS-DBM. Hoy hindi kami tanga para bigyan ninyo ng Celeron processor na para sa bata na nag-aaral pa lang gumamit ng computer. Mga tarantado ang mabibili ng 68K ay yung bagong processor ng Intel at Ryzen hindi yung basura at hindi ginagamit ng mga propesyunal. Tanginang opisina eto notorious sa pagnanakaw at hindi sinisita ng boss nila ibig sabihin magkasabwat ang mga animal. Yung binili ninyo ay 18K lang dapat mga Ulol.
Dain Oquendo says:
Bakit dini delete ang comment ko kasabwat rin yata ng mga magnanakaw ang may gawa ng article na ito
Jangelo says:
Bakit may proof ka na magnanakaw?
Dain Oquendo says:
Kasuhan niyo na nga at ikulong ang taga PS-DBM na bumili ng laptop na yan. Hindi tanga at ignorante sa specs ng laptop ang mga guro para lokohin ninyo. Ang presyo ng 68K na laptop ay nasa high-end na model hindi kagaya netong Celeron na processor na para lang sa bata na nagsisimula pa lang gumamit ng computer. Mga tarantado at magnanakaw ang supplier at buyer na taga PS-DBM.Kung sino man ang may jurisdiction na dakpin at kasuhan ang mga animal na ito ay gawin na ninyo. Bayad kami ng bayad ng napakaraming taxes tapos nanakawin lang ng mga opisyal na mga gago.
Dain Oquendo says:
Entry level na laptop Celeron ang processor ay napakamura lang neto. Nasa 20K or less lang bakit umabot ng 68K.Ginagago yata na tayo ng PS-DBM at itong gobyerno. I dissolved niyo nga ang opisinang ito puro pagnanakaw lang ang alam neto. Bakit kailangan pang idaan sa mga animal na ito ang pagbili ng simpleng laptop?Walang kuwenta ang binili nilang laptop at kaya dinagdagan ang presyo dahil magkasabwat ang seller at buyer parehong magnanakaw. Putang-ina ang baba ng specs na laptop ang presyo ag pang high end at latest processor dapat hindi yung luma na eh mababa pang masyado. Meron na namang Loyd Christopher Lao na bago diyan sa PS – DBM.
Leila Jazul says:
ganun? Naku, malinis lng pala tingnan Ang Pres Duterte, pero hayok sa Garapalan MGA department nya!!
Elds says:
Haii naku!!! Ganito na lang ba tayo palagi? Sana magkaroon ng transparency at maimbestigahan ang pangangawkaw ng bayan… Kaya nga hindi aangat ang antas ng pamumuhay sa bansa dahilan sa mga indibidwal na nagpapakabusog sa kaban ng bayan… Pati sahod ng mga guro nauntsami dahilan sa malaking budget na napupunta lang sa bulsa… My goodness Philippines we are still in a midst of corruption.. Bakit hindi mawawala ang sa atin ito…
emman says:
hindi po mawawala ang corruption kasi tayo din bobotante ang may kasalanan (sinama ko na lahay kasi majority ng voters walang paki sa matinong iboboto haha). so in the end tayo rin ang may kasalanan, di ba?. may malaking kaso or nakasuhan or may mga di bayad na buwis, binoboto, magsayaw ng ng budots panalo haha
marvs says:
kung totoo ang tindi kala ko ba walang corruption nong nakaraang admin hahahahaha
yan po oh compare sa celeron mo hahaha
Nitro 5 AN515-57-50AG Intel Core i5 PHP48,999
marvs says:
ang tindi talaga kala ko ba pinagmamalaki ng nakaraang admin walang corruption hahahah
yan po oh compare sa celeron laptop nyo
₱48,999.00
Jhun.a says:
Intel celeron mura lng yan talaga dapat maimbistigihan bkit ang mahal
Michael Angelo Pascua says:
Garapalan talaga
Frankyrey says:
Those laptops are not even entry level. They are utter garbage. Entry level CPUs are from i3s or Ryzen 3. Celerons are for your toddlers learning their ABC’s. 60K is an i5 to i7 Intel CPU wirh OLED displays and awesome beast work machines not some child plaything