A GROUP of lawmakers filed a resolution directing the Committees on Public Accounts and on Basic Education and Culture at the House of Representatives to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the allocation and distribution of laptops under the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act.

House Resolution 2180 was filed by ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas, Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Jane Elago and Bayan Muna Reps. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite and Eufemia Cullamat.

The lawmakers said Congress should review the distribution and allocation of laptops to determine if the process is compliant with the intent of RA 11494

They explained that the law aims to alleviate the economic burden on teachers and prevent them from being forced to procure using their meager salaries the gadgets for online or distance learning.

Bayanihan 2 allotted a P4 billion budget for the Department of Education to implement Digital Education, Information Technology and Digital Infrastructures and Alternative Learning Modalities including the printing and delivery of self-learning modules of the DepEd.

The DepEd allocated 25 laptops per regional office; 15 laptops each for small, 20 for medium, 25 for large and 30 for very large schools division offices and one laptop each for implementing unit and district office.

Only 115 laptops were allotted per legislative district which will be given to schools or teachers.