House panel launches full probe into DepEd’s alleged fund misuse under VP Sara

The House of Representatives Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability initiated an investigation into the Department of Education’s (DepEd) questionable fund utilization during Vice President Sara Duterte’s leadership.

The panel, often regarded as the House’s counterpart to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, will probe potential “malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance” related to DepEd’s failure to deliver key projects, specifically the distribution of laptops and e-learning equipment.

Manila  Rep. Joel Chua, chair of the committee, announced during Wednesday’s hearing that they received authorization from the House Committee on Rules to proceed with a motu proprio investigation.

This probe follows a motion unanimously approved by committee members, based on concerns that Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro raised during the September 10 House Committee on Appropriations hearing on DepEd’s budget.

“The committee, by a majority vote of all members, decided to conduct a motu proprio investigation on the September 10, 2024 manifestation of Luistro, particularly regarding DepEd’s failure to deliver computers in good condition to end-users and other issues concerning its budget utilization,” Chua stated.

Chua responded to the manifestation of Cagayan Rep. Joseph Lara, who expressed support for the investigation, highlighting DepEd’s responsibility to deliver ICT equipment to teachers and students, as well as concerns over the proper utilization of funds.

“I wish to manifest that this committee, the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, determine whether there is misfeasance, malfeasance, or non-feasance, at kung may and if there are violations by the staff of such agency in their functions as staff,” Lara said.

The investigation focuses on Luistro’s concern over DepEd’s failure to utilize nearly P9 billion of its P11.36 billion budget for ICT equipment in 2023, resulting in a low utilization rate of 19.22 percent.

The committee will further examine the 2023 Commission on Audit (COA) report, which exposed serious operational deficiencies in the DepEd’s Computerization Program.

The report noted that only 50.07 percent of the program’s budget had been utilized, with no substantial accomplishments for the year.

Luistro linked these delays and inefficiencies to the Philippines’ poor performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and warned that the rapid pace of technological advancement could soon make the undelivered computers obsolete.

In tandem with the DepEd investigation, Chua’s panel has also begun its probe into the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) budget utilization, following the scathing privilege speech delivered by Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano on September 3.

Valeriano criticized Vice President Duterte for lacking transparency regarding the use of public funds.

With these investigations underway, the House committee is determined to hold DepEd and the OVP accountable for their lapses and ensure that future allocations are effectively used to benefit the Filipino people.