(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) posted an over 90 percent utilization rate for its computerization program last year, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.Angara explained that there might have been some miscommunication concerning the agency’s utilization rate data.“Dun naman sa utilization yung datos may konting miscommunication dahil ang utilization rate sa computerization program ay nasa 90 plus percent,” Angara said in an ambush interview on Monday.
lots of slots(There might have been a slight miscommunication in the utilization data of the computerization program because it is at 90 plus percent.)
Alexander said Britain’s 2016 vote to leave the EU caused “significant disruption” to its trade policy and the country needed to recalibrate its global trade outlook.
Comments from top Federal Reserve officials suggesting they would like to see a slower pace of rate cuts tempered hopes for another bumper cut at the bank’s next meeting, while Middle East worries pushed gold to a new record.
Article continues after this advertisementAngara made the clarification when asked about Senator Grace Poe’s statement last week revealing that the utilization rate of the computerization program was only at 50.07 percent last year and 11.92 percent as of June 2024.
FEATURED STORIES NEWSINFO Acop to Dela Rosa: Rebut report with proof, not theatrics NEWSINFO 2 senators claim not aware of changes in proposed national budget NEWSINFO Angara: Marcos to remedy huge DepEd budget cutEarlier, Angara disclosed that P10 billion was reduced from the DepEd’s computerization program, which he said could have been used to buy gadgets or computers for public school students.
Similarly, 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez said the P10-billion reduction was primarily due to DepEd’s very low utilization rate of its previous funds for the procurement of information and communications technology (ICT) equipment.
Article continues after this advertisementA report from the Commission on Audit showed that DepEd disbursed only P2.075 billion of its P11.63-billion budget last year for ICT equipment.
Article continues after this advertisement“As former Senate finance committee chair, Secretary Angara knows that the law is clear: unused funds must be accounted for before new allocations can be made. Now that he’s education secretary, he should focus on fixing DepEd’s internal mess. Congress cannot turn a blind eye to these issues,” Gutierrez earlier said.
Also on Monday, Angara revealed that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. already instructed him to coordinate with Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in restoring the P10 billion cut from the agency’s 2025 budget.
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