MANILA, Philippines – Deputy Speaker and SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta sought the resignation of Education Secretary Leonor Briones over alleged anomalous purchase of learning modules.
The lawmaker called the Department of Education (DepEd) for planning to purchase Self-Learning Modules (SLMs) worth over P4.2 billion almost at the end of the school year.
"They have neither reformed nor learned their lessons. From the time that I exposed the lack of learning modules for the third quarter in my privilege speech on March 15, 2021," Marcoleta said.
“They will have to first answer the basic question as to why they are procuring P4.2 billion worth of modules very, very late in the day knowing only too well that they will not be able to deliver these to the schools in time for the 4th quarter,” Marcoleta pointed out.
According to Marcoleta, DepEd will be spending P4.2 billion for the procurement of the SLMs for Grade 4 to 10 just when it is already in the 4th grading period. He described this as nothing but a waste of government's money since the printing and delivery of modules ranges from 30 to 90 days. He expressed his concern that students will not be able to use the SLMs on time.
“So why will they print these materials that the learners will not be able to use this year? Assuming that these get printed, where will they store these tons of SLMs? Baka maulit na naman ‘yung P25 million worth of books printed by Lexicon Press but got rotten in the printer’s warehouse because of DepEd’s inability to get said books prior to their ultimate delivery to intended schools,” the solon added.
Marcoleta reminded DepEd how teachers and students suffered when they had major problems in the reproduction of modules in the first and second quarters. He noted how teachers were forced to reproduce modules with little or no funds at all when in fact the government budget for that was P10 billion.
“This is a wanton waste of people’s money because there is absolutely no way that the modules could be used for the next quarter that will start on May 17 and ends on July 10, 2021,” he added.
— Sally, The Summit Express
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| Rep. Rodante Marcoleta seeks the immediate resignation of Education Secretary Leonor Briones | Photo Courtesy: Twitter/House of Representatives, Facebook/DepEd |
The lawmaker called the Department of Education (DepEd) for planning to purchase Self-Learning Modules (SLMs) worth over P4.2 billion almost at the end of the school year.
"They have neither reformed nor learned their lessons. From the time that I exposed the lack of learning modules for the third quarter in my privilege speech on March 15, 2021," Marcoleta said.
“They will have to first answer the basic question as to why they are procuring P4.2 billion worth of modules very, very late in the day knowing only too well that they will not be able to deliver these to the schools in time for the 4th quarter,” Marcoleta pointed out.
According to Marcoleta, DepEd will be spending P4.2 billion for the procurement of the SLMs for Grade 4 to 10 just when it is already in the 4th grading period. He described this as nothing but a waste of government's money since the printing and delivery of modules ranges from 30 to 90 days. He expressed his concern that students will not be able to use the SLMs on time.
“So why will they print these materials that the learners will not be able to use this year? Assuming that these get printed, where will they store these tons of SLMs? Baka maulit na naman ‘yung P25 million worth of books printed by Lexicon Press but got rotten in the printer’s warehouse because of DepEd’s inability to get said books prior to their ultimate delivery to intended schools,” the solon added.
Marcoleta reminded DepEd how teachers and students suffered when they had major problems in the reproduction of modules in the first and second quarters. He noted how teachers were forced to reproduce modules with little or no funds at all when in fact the government budget for that was P10 billion.
“This is a wanton waste of people’s money because there is absolutely no way that the modules could be used for the next quarter that will start on May 17 and ends on July 10, 2021,” he added.
— Sally, The Summit Express
