Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 11)— The group behind the joint venture linked to the alleged overpriced laptops supplied to the Department of Education (DepEd) maintained that the units were “fully compliant” with the government’s technical specifications.
“The PS-DBM (Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management) solicited bids for the supply and delivery of laptop computers with very specific technical requirements. As qualified bidders, we made an offer and won the comprehensive and competitive bidding fair and square,” the statement said.
It stressed that the laptop sets were “competitively priced and perform according to their intended use.”
“The public should also note that the Dell Latitude 3420 laptops delivered to the government were custom-built direct from the factory and according to the requirements needed by DepEd and therefore cannot be easily equated to a regular off-the-shelf consumer unit,” the group added.
It said it is “inaccurate and unfair” to claim that the offered price was for the units alone.
The statement detailed that the price included the cost of the unit, peripherals, software, commercial-grade durability, comprehensive 36-month warranty, and technical support. While the contract was to supply the equivalent of a 10th generation processor, the group said it delivered laptops with 11th generation processor.
The joint venture noted that all units—a total of 39,583—had already been delivered to DepEd’s regional offices across the country.
State auditors earlier said teachers’ laptops purchased through the PS-DBM were “pricey for entry-level type laptops.”
In their recommendation, the COA said DepEd should explain why the laptops cost over ₱P58,000 each when the estimated price approved was only ₱35,046.50. The total cost of the laptops was ₱2.4 billion.
READ: DepEd: Documents to answer COA findings on overpriced laptops submitted
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also filed a resolution seeking to probe PS-DBM’s laptop deal with DepEd.
READ: Senators want fresh probe into PS-DBM over PPE, laptop deals
The joint venture said it is ready and willing to participate in any proceedings where it will be given the opportunity to show that the supplied product is reliable and capable of its intended use.
Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation (SCDC) and LDLA Marketing & Trading, Inc. (LDLA) in a statement on Thursday addressed the issue initially raised by the Commission on Audit (COA) in its report.
