Teacher’s group demands probe on alleged overpriced cameras

With photos and documents of alleged overpricing on the procurement of cameras by the Department of Education (DepEd) circulating online, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers called on the education agency, the Commission on Audit (CoA) and the legislative branches of government to look into the truth of the matter.

“After the certified overpriced bulk purchase of laptops as found by the Senate investigation, now came pieces of evidence pointing to overpricing on purchase of cameras, by the DepEd central office and some field offices. It is both enraging and demoralizing for teachers to hear of such anomalies while we feel everyday the scantiness of funds for education on the ground,” lamented Quetua.

“Walang konsiyensya itong mga sangkot sa maling paggasta ng pera ng taumbayan na laan sana sa edukasyon ng mga kabataan. Pagnanakaw ito sa kinabukasan ng mga bata. Dapat lang na imbestigahan ito, tuntunin ang lahat ng nakinabang at kasapakat, at parusahan ayon sa batas,” asserted Quetua.

“It is disheartening that the agency which is supposed to inculcate honesty and judicious use of money among the young generation has been swarmed with anomalies. Bago pa ang overpriced laptop, naging kontrobersyal na ang DepEd sa pagbili ng magagarang sasakyan, at mga hamon at keso de bola sa kasagsagan ng pandemya,” pointed out Quetua.

“Sec. VP Sara Duterte promised of addressing corruption in the DepEd in her Basic Education Report 2023. This matter only deserves her attention, as well as the many other possible controversial purchases in the department. Her promise will only be meaningful if we see that concrete actions on the anomalies are executed,” challenged Quetua.

“Sana ay bigyang pansin rin ng CoA at ng Kongreso ang usaping ito. Hiling namin na bigyan ninyo ng katarungan ang bawat guro na gumagastos ng sariling pera para magpakumpuni ng silid-aralan at bawat batang walang aklat sa pag-aaral,” concluded Quetua.