THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers slammed the Department of Education for the delayed distribution of P53 million worth of gadgets to Cavite teachers as reported by the Commission on Audit.

“Hindi ito ang unang beses na mayroong pagkukulang ang DepEd upang tugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga kaguruan sa mga kagamitan,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.

“Noong nakaraan lamang mayroong negligence and corruption issues patungkol sa DepEd laptops. Mahigit isang buwan pa lang, may balita nanaman patungkol sa isa pang kapabayaan,” he said.

In its 2022 audit report, COA said that the cause of the delayed delivery of laptops to teachers in Cavite was the significant delay in the submission of purchase requests and other procurement processes by the DepEd Division Office.

The commission added that only 350 laptops and 4,148 tablets were used by teachers and other intended recipients 12 to 19 months from the target completion of the procurement.

“Dahil sa delay na ito, hindi napakikinabangan agad ng mga kaguruan ang mga supply at equipment na nakatutulong sana para sa kanila. Ang laking perwisyo nito lalo na’t nasasayang lamang ang purpose ng mga laptop dahil ngayon pa lang nila magagamit kung kailan patapos na ang taong panuruan,” Quetua said.