Gatchalian to DepEd: Spend computerization funds efficiently

The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to receive a 94 percent budget hike for its Computerization Program (DCP) under fiscal year 2022, according to Senator Win Gatchalian.

But the chair of the Senate basic education committee said the education department should ensure that funds are properly used to procure and provide computers for the country’s public schools.

In 2019 and 2020, DepEd was only able to disburse 27 percent of its available appropriations under the DCP.

Under the 2022 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the DCP is set to receive P11.65 billion.

For 2021, the program has an allocation of P6 billion. While Gatchalian said he 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,” he said.

According to the 2020 Commission on Audit (COA) report on DepEd, only 7,555 or 16.29 percent 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 2018-2020.

“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.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)