Lawmakers have criticized the previous Department of Education (DepEd) administration for its poor management of funds allocated for laptops and other e-learning equipment in 2023. During a House committee hearing on DepEd’s 2025 budget, Rep. Gerville Lusistro questioned why only P2.18 billion out of the P11.36 billion budget was utilized for the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP). Director Ferdinand Pitagan confirmed the low expenditure, citing a focus on spending funds from 2022 rather than the 2023 allocation. Lusistro expressed frustration, questioning the rationale behind requesting such a large budget if it wasn’t going to be used effectively, and highlighted the need for better support for students and educators in her district.
