The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) bought a large bulk of electronic devices meant for distribution, but a large number of the items still remain unaccounted for.

Under the Cybersafe Learning for Education program, the DICT procured in 2020 and 2021, gadgets worth Php550 million, which began in the Metro Manila cities of Makati and San Juan.

Per the project, a total of 10,250 laptops and 41,500 tablets were acquired. Respectively, the devices were priced at Php32,000 and Php4,950 to Php5,400 under said program.

Although majority of the laptops were already given away to recipients, some 866 laptops and 12,482 tablets remain unallocated.

Following the 2021 audit of DICT, the Commission on Audit (COA) warned that the still existing gadgets could become obsolete if not distributed to students and teachers.

Further, the COA identified the issue of “low rate of distribution” as an issue over the management failing to establish beforehand who would be the recipients of the CLE Project.

In their defense, the CLE project manager explains that the devices were not released for distribution because the beneficiaries either did not have contact persons yet or have yet to go through valuation if legible for the role.

Source: Rappler

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