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DepED: PS-DBM need to return P24M 'lapsed allotment'
By TED CORDERO,GMA NewsThe Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) will have to return over P24 million in lapsed allotment in relation to the controversial procurement of alleged overpriced laptops for the Department of Education (DepEd), a top official of the DepEd said Thursday.
“There is an amount that the PS-DBM needs to return as a lapsed allotment —P24,303,547.70,” Education Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla said during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the matter.
The DepEd official did not specify how the lapsed allotment was computed, but she said the Education Department paid the PS-DBM over P2.18 billion, inclusive of the 3% or P69 million service fee
, while the total contract cost for the purchase of laptops was more than P2.3 billion.Blue Ribbon panel chairman Senator Francis Tolentino then asked the PS-DBM if the lapsed allotment has been returned to the DepEd.
In response, PS-DBM executive director Dennis Santiago said the amount is still in the savings account of the procurement agency.
“We are accounting this,” Santiago said, adding that the lapsed allotment is “in the bank.”
Tolentino asked Santiago why the PS-DBM has yet to return the amount to the DepEd.
The PS-DBM chief said the agency is still clarifying with the Commission on Audit (COA) what to do with the lapsed allotment.
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However, Job Aguirre Jr., officer-in-charge Supervising Auditor of DepEd Audit Group COA, said “it’s not allowed” for the PS-DBM to keep the amount in its bank account.
“Under the law, bawal talaga (it’s not allowed),” Aguirre said.
The PS-DBM is once again on the spotlight due to its flagged procurement of laptops for the DepEd for the implementation of distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COA, in its audit report, said the purchase of the more expensive laptops resulted in the procurement of fewer units, depriving over 28,000 teachers of the benefit.
The audit report said the 68,500 laptops that were supposed to be procured were reduced to 39,583 units mainly due to the huge increase in the estimated cost - from P35,046 to P58,300, anchored on the DBM-PS' recommendation, which was duly accepted by the DepEd.
The procurement agency was also linked to alleged irregularities surrounding the purchase of face masks, face shields, and other pandemic supplies with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. in 2020.
PS-DBM has sought the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) assistance in investigating the acquisition of laptops for the DepEd.
It is also suspending the procurement of non-common use supplies and equipment (Non-CSE) for government agencies until further notice to focus on the fulfillment of its primary mandate which is to procure CSEs.
PS-DBM is mandated to procure common-use office supplies, materials, and equipment such as, but not limited to, ballpens, papers, stapler, paper clips, folders, and the like for all government agencies.—AOL, GMA News