HOUSE Assistant Majority Leader and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon on Monday exposed what he described as an alleged “conspiracy” behind the bidding of P8-billion worth of laptops and other related equipment for public schools during the time of Vice President Sara Duterte as education secretary.
Bongalon made the revelation in the course of the House Committee on Appropriations hearing on the P793.18-billion proposed budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) for next year.
At the start, Bongalon, a vice chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, told new DepEd Sec. Juan Edgardo Angara that he may not be able to answer his questions as he would be raising concerns about the procurement of laptops and other equipment for public schools in 2022 and 2023.
The burden of answering Ako Bicol lawmaker fell on Undersecretary for Procurement Gerard Chan, who has taken over from former Undersecretaries Michael Poa and Gloria Mercado.
Poa has joined Duterte in the Office of the Vice President as her spokesperson, while Mercado has availed herself of early retirement.
Another DedEd official Bongalon dragged in the procurement mess, former Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas, has resigned.
“May conspiracy na nangyari dito sa procurement na ito. Nagkaroon ng first bidding at rebidding, pero the same bidders ang participants. Ang mga sangkot sa conspiracy ay ‘yung nakaupo sa BAC (bidding and awards committee) and the procurement officials supervising them,” the lawmaker from Bicol said.
Bongalon said based on the bids submitted during the first bidding, there was a (price) variance of 24 percent, meaning the government stood to save at least P1.6 billion.
“Dun sa second bidding participated in by the same bidders, naging 1 percent na lang ang variance. Ibig sabihin, tumaas ang presyo. Para sa akin, this was a rigged bidding,” he said.
“I raise these concerns because probably there is an irregularity in the procurement. And there are personalities involved at mayroon pong nakialam dito, yun po ang paniniwala ko,” Bongalon said.
“Kasi nagkaroon na po ng bidding. Ang hindi ko po maintindihan, bakit hindi natin tinuloy? Sayang po ng P1.6 billion na mase-save po ng ating gobyerno. Sabihin na lamang natin na ang laptop is worth P100,000, ilang laptops na po ang mabibili nun?” he said. “So I want answers, Madam Chair, from the Department of Education kung sino po ang mga personalidad during that time.”
He stressed that DepEd could have procured additional laptops with the P1.6 billion it would have saved had the first bidding pushed through.
Upon Bongalon’s prodding, Chan explained that the first bidding failed because the bidders submitted incomplete documents.
As for the price variants, Chan said the bidding participants “maybe corrected their documents and prices might have changed.”
It took time for the DepEd official to volunteer the names of Mercado, Bringas and Poa as the ones who were handling procurements before he took over.
This prompted Bongalon to say, “In government, people come and go, and usually, kilala natin o alam natin yung mga pumapalit, pero ‘di po niya masagot directly.”
Chan promised to submit all documents pertaining to the procurement of the P8-billion worth of laptops.
The Ako Bicol congressman vowed that at the proper time, he would seek an investigation into this “particular irregularity” so that those responsible could be held accountable.
Meanwhile, House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Monday demanded action against contractors during the Duterte administration until the time of Vice President Duterte as DepEd secretary who failed to fulfill their Last Mile Schools Program (LMSP) contracts, noting that only 50 percent of the P20.54 billion allocated had been used and calling their inaction a “disservice” to students in remote areas.
Adiong strongly condemned the supposed delays in the delivery of essential resources, including computers, under the LMSP and urged DepEd to pursue legal action against suppliers who have not met their obligations.
The delays date back to 2020 during the Duterte administration and continued until 2023 when DepEd was led by Vice President Sara Duterte, who resigned on July 19. She has since been replaced by new DepEd secretary, Sonny Angara.
“You’re asking for a P10 billion budget for the same program, yet you have not utilized the remaining funds properly, and you did not even file a complaint against these erring suppliers,” Adiong said, stressing the urgent need to hold these companies accountable for their failures.
The LMSP aims to address facility gaps in schools located in difficult terrains and isolated islands by upgrading makeshift classrooms and infrastructure, particularly in schools without electricity.
Adiong noted that only 50 percent, or approximately P10.29 billion, of the P20.54 billion allocated under the LMSP had been utilized, raising serious concerns about the department’s efficiency.
Despite the program's goal to construct facilities in 152 sites, Adiong questioned why a significant portion of the funds remained unutilized and why there were substantial delays in completing these projects, especially as the department is now seeking an additional P10 billion—an amount DepEd later clarified was actually P3 billion.
Adiong demanded answers on the causes of these delays and why funds were reverted despite being obligated for the program.
DepEd Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III explained that three contractors were initially selected for the LMSP, but only one completed 95% of the work.
He said the other two contractors, including one responsible for projects in Mindanao, failed to deliver, with one producing zero output.
"When the infrastructure strand was created, we talked to the three contractors, giving them a chance to continue. After they were given a certain deadline, only one of the contractors was able to finish, I think, 95% of what was allotted to it. The other one managed around 25% or 30%," Densing explained.
He added, "The balance, I think, they will not be able to build anymore. The third contractor had zero output, and this is the contractor in charge of Mindanao. We are now in the process of terminating those contractors who did not comply with their requirements."
Adiong, representing a far-flung area, emphasized the LMSP's vital role in providing quality education to the country’s most marginalized communities.
He expressed frustration over the slow pace of project completion, noting that significant funds have been left unutilized or reverted due to contractors’ inefficiencies.
“Why are we spending so much money on equipment when the suppliers haven’t fulfilled their obligations? This is a significant issue,” Adiong argued, stressing that these delays are a disservice to the students who are most in need of these educational resources.
He urged DepEd, under the leadership of Angara, to ensure that accountability is enforced and to take decisive action against those who have deliberately failed to deliver on their contracts.
“I hope that we can see at least a sense of accountability. We need to run after those people who have deliberately... talagang niloko tayo,” Adiong insisted.
In response, Angara assured the House panel that DepEd would take strong measures against those responsible for the delays.
“Yes, Your Honor, we will go after these people and the suggestion to pay special attention, tututukan po namin,” Angara pledged, committing to rectify the program's shortcomings.
“Sa ibang bansa, kapag dehado ang isang eskwelahan, dehado mga bata, ‘yan ang binibigyan ng pinakamalaking tulong o pondo. Parang dito sa atin ‘di nangyayari po ‘yan, but we will make sure that changes, Your Honor,” he assured.
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