Laptops and Books Sitting Unused in DepEd Warehouse
DEPED – Secretary Sonny Angara disclosed during a budget hearing that 1.5 million units of laptops, books, and other equipment have been left unused in a warehouse belonging to the education department’s logistics provider for four years.
The Department of Education (DepEd) is the executive branch of the Philippine government responsible for managing and overseeing the country’s basic education system. Established on January 21, 1901, DepEd is tasked with ensuring access to, promoting equity in, and improving the quality of basic education, which includes primary and secondary schooling.
DepEd’s mission is to provide quality basic education that is accessible to all and lays the foundation for lifelong learning. The department is led by the Secretary of Education, who is appointed by the President of the Philippines and confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. The current Secretary of Education is Sonny Angara.
Over the years, DepEd has undergone several reorganizations and name changes. Originally known as the Department of Public Instruction, it was renamed multiple times, including to the Department of Education and Culture, and later to the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports. In 2001, it became the Department of Education (DepEd) as part of the Governance of Basic Education Act. The department no longer handles cultural and sports activities, which have been transferred to other agencies. DepEd now focuses solely on basic education, including elementary, secondary, and non-formal education.
Meanwhile, during a budget hearing, Secretary Sonny Angara revealed that 1.5 million units of laptops, books, and other equipment had been left unused in a warehouse belonging to DepEd’s logistics provider for the past four years. To address this, Angara stated that they are coordinating with the Air Force and other agencies to recover the stored materials and ensure they do not deteriorate.
This revelation comes after the House of Representatives criticized DepEd for its poor budget utilization, highlighting inefficiencies in its operations. One notable concern is the underutilization of the 11 billion pesos allocated for DepEd’s computerization program in 2023, of which only 2 billion pesos were spent. This underutilization is particularly concerning given the agency’s current computer-to-teacher ratio, which stands at 1:30, meaning one computer is shared by 30 teachers.