Quimbo hits Duterte-time DepEd: Fast on confidential expenses, slow on regular fund disbursement

Summary

The transcript from a meeting discusses the Philippine education crisis and the challenges faced by the Department of Education (DepEd). It highlights the importance of addressing the crisis efficiently, especially considering the global competition that Filipino students must face. The discussion points out the low utilization of funds, with the COA report showing slow spending and unspent funds, which is a significant concern. The meeting also addresses the issue of the slow delivery of ICT packages to schools, with a discrepancy between the reported number of delivered packages and the actual number received. The conversation emphasizes the need for timely procurement and delivery to ensure the effectiveness of educational resources.

Takeaways

• 🙌 The discussion is centered around the challenges faced by the Department of Education (DepEd) in addressing the education crisis, particularly in light of global competitiveness.
• 🌐 There is an emphasis on the need for the youth to be competitive in a global job market, which is increasingly virtual and requires a strong educational foundation.
• 📉 The COA (Commission on Audit) report for 2023 highlights a low utilization rate of funds, indicating slow spending and wasted resources.
• 💼 The report points out that while confidential funds had a high utilization rate, regular funds had significant delays and underutilization.
• 📊 Slide 11 of the budget presentation is referenced to discuss the status of ICT package deliveries, which are crucial for improving the learning environment.
• 🚫 There is a discrepancy between the COA report stating zero accomplishment rates and the DepEd's claim of delivering 44,000 ICT packages.
• 📦 The issue of warehousing is raised, with concerns about the efficiency of distribution from warehouses to schools.
• 📅 A tight timeline for delivery is discussed, with a contract stipulating 180 days for procurement to delivery, raising questions about the feasibility and urgency of the process.
• 🔄 The conversation suggests the need for early procurement and possibly increasing the number of suppliers to improve the speed and efficiency of deliveries.
• 🏢 The potential for decentralization of the purchase process is mentioned, which could involve more regional offices and suppliers to expedite the process.

Q & A

What is the main concern discussed in the script regarding the education sector?

The main concern is the significant Education Crisis, particularly the low performance in global competitiveness, as mentioned in the Pisa rankings.

What does the term 'virtual assistant' refer to in the context of the script?

It refers to jobs that can be applied for and performed online, where the competition is global.

What is the issue with the COA report mentioned in the script?

The issue is the low utilization of funds, which implies slow spending and leftover funds, indicating wasted resources.

What is the efficiency score of spending confidential funds as discussed in the script?

The efficiency score is 143%, calculated by dividing the 100% utilized funds by the 69% of days in the quarters.

What is the status of the ICT packages delivery as per the COA report?

According to the COA report, there is a zero accomplishment rate for the delivery of ICT packages.

What was the discrepancy between the COA report and the DepEd's claim regarding the delivery of ICT packages?

The COA report stated that no ICT packages were delivered, while DepEd claimed that 44,000 packages were delivered.

What is the concern regarding the delivery of laptops as mentioned in the script?

The concern is the significant delay in the delivery of laptops, which is seen as unacceptable given the students' needs and the useful life of a computer.

What is the contract duration for the delivery of laptops as per the script?

The contract duration is 180 days, with a commitment to deliver all laptops by December of the current year.

What solution is proposed to address the delay in laptop deliveries?

The proposed solution includes conducting a feasibility study for decentralization of the purchase and computerization program, potentially increasing the number of suppliers.

How does the script suggest increasing the number of suppliers for the laptop procurement?

By decentralizing the procurement process to regional offices, which could potentially increase the number of suppliers from the current 7 to 34 or more.