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MANILA (UPDATE) – The Department of Education said on Saturday that it canceled its alleged acquisition of more than 4 million pesos in ham and cheese destined for the Christmas celebration of the central office, calling it “inappropriate” amid the pandemic and the typhoon stream affecting parts of the country.
The Department of Education says it canceled the tender for P4 million in ham and cheese for its Central Office Christmas celebration. @ABSCBNNews
– Assets of Jaehwa Bernardo (@jaehwabernardo) November 14, 2020
DepEd issued a statement after the halted acquisition came to light on social media, drawing public criticism for the alleged spending.
DepEd Public Affairs Director June Arvin Gudoy said the department has “reallocated” funds to help employees hit hard by typhoons Rolly and Ulysses, which caused severe flooding and damage in Luzon this month.
The funds will also be used to support those affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“The call for tenders has been canceled. It was a regular acquisition, but it is inappropriate at this time when our employees are severely affected by recent disasters. Since then, we have reallocated funds for the needs of those affected by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses. and the COVID-19 Effort for our employees, “Gudoy said in a statement.
DepEd had opened tenders on its website for “Supply and Delivery of Ham and Cheese for the DepEd Head Office Christmas Celebration” with funding of P4,278 million.
The tender page has been removed.
DepEd said its offices in areas that were not hit by recent typhoons have offered to help those affected by successive storms.
“After Bicol, our undersecretaries will also visit our schools in Cagayán as soon as possible to verify the needs of our schools. The well-being of our teachers and students continues to be our priority and more at this time,” said Gudoy.
Although “satisfied” with the cancellation, the president of the Coalition for the Dignity of the Teachers, Benjo Basas, said that the measure is a testimony of how “the DepEd sets priorities and violates its own rules.”
“We are pleased that DepEd has canceled its ham and cheese tender for more than P4.2 million for the holiday celebration at Central Office. However, this only shows how DepEd sets priorities and violates its own rules,” he said. citing an order from the Department of Education that says Christmas celebrations in public schools should be “simple but meaningful.”
Basas also pointed to the timing of the tender, citing how it was published during the typhoon onslaught in the country.
In a previous Facebook post, Basas lamented the alleged lack of priorities set by the agency at a time of crisis, and the difficulties that teachers and students have to overcome in a modular learning setup imposed by authorities during a coronavirus pandemic. .
“’It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. The same happened last year, with more than three million pesos allocated to the challenge and cheese ball. What does DepEd really want to prioritize? Is hard to understand. More so Every year, DepEd has a reminder to make the holiday celebrations meaningful and affordable. Is this reminder just for teachers and principals? Just for schools? “Basas said in a Facebook post.
(It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. This is what happened last year. More than P3 million was allocated for ham and cheese. What does DepEd want to prioritize? This is hard to understand, especially since every year DepEd always gives us remember Keep the holiday celebrations simple. Is this reminder for teachers and principals only? For schools?)
– With a report by Jaehwa Bernardo, ABS-CBN News
DepEd, Ham, cheese, tender, Tender for ham and cheese DepEd, “Supply and delivery of ham and cheese for the Christmas celebration of the Central Office of DepEd, Benjo Basas
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