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MANILA – The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on Monday criticized the Department of Education for purchasing new service vehicles, saying it was an “insensitive” use of funds at a time when teachers have been bearing the costs of implementing learning. from distance.
“We were distraught with this callous use of education money, especially as our teachers bear the costs of bond paper, ink, devices, and internet connectivity needed just for modular and online learning to happen amid the pandemic. “ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio said in a statement.
“This is the DepEd kind of dolomite scam,” he added, referring to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ man-made white sand beach project in Manila Bay, which critics described as a waste of public funds.
In a statement, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) said it delivered 166 units of its Strada 4×4 GLS MT trucks to DepEd, which would be used by the agency’s engineers for field inspections.
The delivery was made in addition to the 88 trucks that were delivered to DepEd on December 5, 2019, bringing the total number of vehicles purchased to 254, according to MMPC.
Education Undersecretary Alain Pascua said the department acquired the 4×4 trucks, which cost P1.5 million per unit, even before the pandemic, so that DepEd staff could reach schools in remote areas.
“They (Mitsubishi) won the competitive bidding. Yours is the lowest, ”he said.
“When we were about to distribute them, we got to ECQ (enhanced community quarantine), so it was only distributed recently,” he added.
(When we were about to distribute the vehicles, the government implemented the enhanced community quarantine, which is why they were recently distributed.)
During the ECQ period, the vehicles were used to carry front-line passengers due to the ban on public transportation, Pascua said.
“Before the opening of the school and even until now, these vehicles have been used and are being used in the delivery of modules, in the transport of teachers and in emergency care,” he said.
In a separate statement, Pascua said there has been a clamor for service vehicles among DepEd engineers and architects since late 2016.
DepEd field engineers have been accompanying school construction contractors when surveying project sites in remote areas, which can compromise their research and reporting on projects, he explained.
Pascua said the department’s disaster risk reduction management staff would also use the 4×4 trucks in times of emergencies and calamities.
The department also purchased 183 units of passenger vans that will be used by field officials on official duties, he added.
But Basilio said it was not an excuse if the department had purchased the vehicles before the pandemic, as “shortages” in basic learning needs have long plagued the education system.
This year, schools switched to distance learning, which makes use of print and digital modules, online classes, television and radio, after the government banned face-to-face classes due to the continuing threat of COVID-19.
While DepEd has provided funding to its staff for the provision of learning materials, some teachers have used their own money or asked for donations from the public for reams of bond paper to be able to print learning modules for their students.
Education, Department of Education, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Service Vehicles, Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Strada, DepEd Service Vehicles
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