The House Committee on Appropriations, chaired by AKO BICOL Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, on Monday terminated the briefing of the P793.18 billion proposed budget of Department of Education (DepEd) and its attached agencies, after an extensive scrutiny of the agency’s performance.
DepEd's budget sponsor, Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora flagged the major challenges in the Philippine education system particularly the learning crisis, 150,000 classrooms backlog, textbook shortages, procurement issues, 47,000 unfilled positions, and concerns over senior high school graduates' employability.
DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said his priorities are improving curriculum implementation, learning recovery and assessments while advocating for hybrid and computer-based assessments, targeted support for low-achieving learners and promoting inclusive education.
He noted that outdated staffing standards delay teachers' career progress and highlighted issues such as high bullying rates, student malnutrition and shortage of 4,486 guidance counselors.
Angara also identified gaps, such as 159,202 classroom shortage, 2,001 schools without electricity and 18,325 without internet, suggesting a school building program, electrification and nationwide internet access by 2029 -- with support from private and international partners.
Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro questioned DepEd about the computerization program implementation, particularly the low budget utilization with only 19.22% of the P11 billion allocation disbursed under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
"Bakit po sa tindi ng pangangailangan natin for ICT packages, Madam Chair, out of P11-billion allocation, bakit po P2.075-billion ang naging disbursement?" Luistro asked.
DepEd’s Information and Communications Technology Service director Ferdinand Pitagan responded that when the new administration came in (2022), the priority was the continuing 2022 appropriations.
"That's why for 2022 funds, we had the 92 percent obligation. Now 'yung 2023 Ma'am, tumawid ngayon siya ng 2024," he added.
Luistro expressed concern over DepEd's zero percent accomplishment rates for both current and continuing appropriations meant for eLearning, smart TVs and laptops.
In line with Luistro's recommendation, the committee will issue a subpoena to obtain all bidding documents from 2022 to 2024, including the end-users' acceptance.
Committee Senior vice chairperson and Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo also criticized the DepEd’s 180-day delivery timeline of IT equipment, calling it "unacceptable."
"Director, I'm just telling you and I'm sure all members will agree with me that your timetable is completely unacceptable," she stated.
Pitagan assured that the 2023 and 2024 procured IT equipment would go directly to schools, while older items from 2020 and 2021 are still in storage.
He also noted that the 44,638 ICT packages equate to 504,000 laptops, which are ordered from abroad and assembled locally.
Angara committed to looking into early or decentralized procurement and a feasibility study on increasing the number of suppliers to address the procurement delays.
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