Following the laptop mess, the Department of Education (DepEd) is faced again with another overpricing allegation concerning various camera equipment procured by the agency.
On January 31, activist Renato Reyes tweeted a photo by professional photographer Jhun Dantes showing a Canon 1500D DSLR camera allegedly procured by DepEd.
After overpriced laptops, overpriced cameras naman? This was posted by a professional photographer who inquired why this entry-level camera apparently costs P155k while a similar model sells for P23k in Lazada. pic.twitter.com/jbMkTNVb7G
— Renato Reyes, Jr. (@natoreyes) January 31, 2023
Reyes observed that the device, marked with a DepEd sticker indicating a price of ₱155,929, could be acquired online for just approximately Php 23,000 with kit lens already.
On the other hand, DepEd refuted the allegation, claiming that the unit shown in the photo was a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV which is around Php 138,000 (body only) if based on iPrice.
“It was being claimed that certain cameras were procured back in 2019 if I’m not mistaken and when I looked into it ang nasa picture was an entry level camera,” said Michael Poa, DepEd spokesperson.
“But when I asked the Public Affairs service regarding the cameras being used by DepEd, lahat naman po ‘yan Mark 4, so hindi po sya ‘yung entry level na camera,” Poa explained.
“Maasahan po ninyo that we will look into this,” he told CNN Philippines in an interview.
Snapshot/ The Source, CNN Philippines
Moreover, Reyes also delved some bidding documents via PhilGEPS and spotted anomalous procurements.
One instance is the Invitation to Bid (ITB) dating back to 2021 with Reference No. 7577748 stating over Php 2.9 million approved budget for DSLR camera batteries, memory cards, handheld gimbal, camera backpack, etc.
“It’s time to ask COA if there are any standards for these purchases,” said Reyes.
Previously, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee recommended pressing graft and corruption charges against Christopher Lloyd Lao, a previous Department of Budget and Management – Procurement Service (PS-DBM) head, and some former and present DepEd top executives regarding the purchased laptops in 2021 that were overpriced by at least Php 979 million.
In hopes to avoid similar issues, DepEd recently established an office to facilitate and make its procurement process more efficient and transparent.
As of February 5, in another tweet, Reyes further detailed the information that was censored on the photo.
@DepEd_PH are you really serious in investigating the camera? Here are the details we researched
Property #: 2022-0503-0076-12
Serial #: 21-558076012822
Asset classification: ICT Equipment
Acquisition Date: March 21, 2022
Acquisition Cost: Php 155,929.00
Location ASU Supply pic.twitter.com/oD8aTiJ6l9— Renato Reyes, Jr. (@natoreyes) February 5, 2023
He also said that nobody from the education department has contacted him yet to proceed with the investigation and questioned their urgency with the matter.
Ahhh… some things never change is coming.