The Department of Education (DepEd) is once again at the center of a controversy as photos and documents of alleged overpricing on the procurement of cameras continue to circulate online.
Issuing a statement on Wednesday, Feb. 1, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines called on the DepEd, the Commission on Audit (CoA), and the legislative branches of government to look into the truth of the matter.
“After the certified overpriced bulk purchase of laptops as found by the Senate investigation, now came pieces of evidence pointing to overpricing on purchase of cameras, by the DepEd central office and some field offices,” said ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua.
“It is both enraging and demoralizing for teachers to hear of such anomalies while we feel everyday the scantiness of funds for education on the ground,” he added.
Quetua also stressed that it is “disheartening” that the agency which is supposed to inculcate “honesty and judicious use of money among the young generation has been swarmed with anomalies.”
ACT noted that Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte promised of addressing corruption in the DepEd in her Basic Education Report (BER) 2023.
“This matter only deserves her attention, as well as the many other possible controversial purchases in the department,” Quetua said. “Her promise will only be meaningful if we see that concrete actions on the anomalies are executed,” he added.
DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa told reporters in a Viber message that the Central Office is also checking with the regional office.
He noted that in the DepEd Central Office Public Affairs Service, no entry-level cameras are being used.
“I will have to ask the Regional offices kung may mga ganitong entry level cameras na na-procure ,” he added.