#DICT procurement

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has released a statement in response to the procurement of PHP 170M worth of gadgets, which COA recently flagged to be outside DICT's mandate. According to DICT, the laptops and gadgets procured under its Digital Education Program (DEP) were intended to assist its partner Local Government Units (LGUs) in facilitating ICT-enabled education, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. DICT mentioned that the said ICT gadgets, which the LGUs turned over to student beneficiaries, enhance the delivery of services to the education sector, which the department identified as a mandate that it fulfills. Secretary Honasan also mentioned that the DICT is empowered to pursue these initiatives to provide necessary computer services and technical expertise to government agencies in line with its mandates under RA 10844 in relation to Presidential Decree (PD) No. DICT said that they coordinate with the Department of Education (DepED), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to develop and promote ICT in education consistent with national goals and objectives. Thus, devices and laptops were procured for DICT’s DEP’s pilot projects — Cybersafe Learning for Education, Cybersafe Learning for Education of the Cybersecurity Bureau (CSB), and the Digital Learners and Teachers. Read more in our articles including "DICT: Gadgets to help LGUs boost ICT-enabled education, no procurement irregularity" and "DICT purchased PHP 170M worth of gadgets outside its mandate, says COA".