In 2023, the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd), under the leadership of Vice President Sara Duterte, faced significant challenges in meeting its core objectives, according to a recent report by the Commission on Audit (COA). The audit highlighted multiple areas where DepEd failed to achieve its targets, impacting the quality and distribution of educational resources across the country.
The COA’s July report pointed out that the department struggled notably in distributing educational materials, purchasing books, hiring teachers, constructing classrooms, and managing the school-based feeding program. The auditors issued several Notices of Disallowance regarding transactions that involved irregular, unnecessary, and excessive spending, suggesting a misuse of public funds.
Specifically, the DepEd was unsuccessful in its plan to print and deliver 8.7 million books and instructional materials last year, achieving only 22 percent of its goal. This shortfall meant that only 1.87 million items were distributed. Furthermore, despite setting a target to fill 15,365 teaching positions at the start of the year, only 11,023 were successfully hired, reaching just 72 percent of the target.
In terms of infrastructure, out of the targeted 16,557 new classrooms to be built under the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF), only 12,281 were completed, representing 74 percent of the goal. The School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP), which had sufficient funds, only benefited 5.33 million students, or 77 percent of the intended 6.94 million, due to procurement issues and delays.
Moreover, the auditors criticized DepEd’s failure to fully implement the DepEd Enterprise Resource Planning System (DERPS) despite having spent over P1 billion through the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM). The DepEd Computerization Program (DCP), aimed at aiding students and teachers, reported a disheartening budget utilization rate of 50.07 percent with no significant achievements noted for the fiscal year 2023.
Another notable failure was in the Last Mile Schools Program (LMSP), which targets remote areas. The report indicated that 76 out of 98 facilities were unfinished, even though mobilization fees amounting to P211.23 million had already been paid.
Overall, the COA’s findings suggest that the Department of Education under Vice President Duterte’s administration did not effectively use its funds, wasted money, violated procurement processes, and failed to enforce compliance with delivery specifications and targets, according to state auditors.
