Several groups have condemned the Department of Education’s (DepEd) purchase of brand-new 4×4 vehicles, calling it “DepEd’s own kind of dolomite scam.”
“We were anguished with this insensible use of education money, especially when our teachers shoulder the costs for bond paper, ink, devices and internet connectivity needed just to make modular and online learning happen amid the pandemic,” Alliance of Concerned Teachers Sec. Gen. Raymond Basilio raised.
The DepEd explained that such vehicles were procured before the pandemic and the distribution was only delayed due to the implementation of enhanced community quarantine and community restrictions.
“The vehicles are for field engineers for their inspection of school building programs in far-flung areas, doon sa mga bundok at lugar na 4×4 lang ang pwede (in mountains where only 4×4 vehicles will do). Nandoon mga last mile schools natin (Our last mile schools are there),” DepEd USec. Alain Pascua responded.
In terms of the cost, USec. Annalyn Sevilla explained that “it was a result of open-bidding procurement” and the department “has set specifications that are responsive to the needs of the SDOs and engineers.”
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday said that the funds used were part of the 2019 budget and the “need was assessed as early as 2016.”
“Eh talaga naman po lahat ng government procurement dumaraan po iyan sa public bidding, at iyan po iyong pinaka mababang responsive bid na nakuha ng DepEd (All government procurements undergo public bidding, and that is the lowest responsive bid the DepEd got),” Sec. Roque stated.
The DepEd and Sec. Leonor Briones have the full trust of President Duterte, the presidential spokesperson added. – Report from Kenneth Paciente
