The Department of Education (DepEd) said Sunday, July 4, that around 90 percent of the P4.35 billion funds under Bayanihan 2 Law for distance learning have already been “successfully obligated and disbursed”.
DepEd issued a statement clarifying its use and disbursement of the P4.35 billion funds allotted in basic education under Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, popularly known as Bayanihan 2 after the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines scored the agency’s failure to obligate some P1.744-billion Bayanihan 2 allotment for distance learning needs.
“Contrary to misinformed claims, the Department has obligated P3.821 billion of the funds with P3.751 billion of these disbursed already. The utilization rate is expected to increase once field offices submit their final report,” it said.
“Meanwhile, out of the estimated 10 percent unobligated funds, P152 million was savings from procurement while the P250 million was due to failed bidding,” it added.
The department said field offices are expected to submit their “reports of obligations and disbursement” for the remaining funds.
ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio described last week as “epic fail” DepEd’s failure “to obligate about 40 percent of the P4.3 billion allocation of Bayanihan 2 to the agency’s distance learning needs.”
Related story: https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/01/sayang-group-hits-depeds-waste-of-p1-7b-bayanihan-2-funds-for-distance-learning/
DepEd provided the breakdown of its P 4.35-billion Bayanihan 2 fund allocation and its intended use:
Provision of Laptops for Teachers - P 2.4 billion
Internet Connectivity Load -P 1.2 billion
DepEd TV and Radio - P300 million
Learning Modules - P150 million
Basic Education Subsidies and Allowances - P300 million
“Despite the magnitude and complexity of these projects, DepEd has practiced due diligence in adhering to the government procurement process for transparency and accountability,” DepEd said.
The department said it has tapped Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS) as “its procuring entity since it has more expertise on the process.”
“We thank the President, the Congress, and our field offices for continuously championing Bayanihan in education amidst the pandemic,” it said.
“Likewise, we extend our gratitude to the general public for rallying with us as we recover as one,” he added.