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PASIG CITY, 22 September 2024 – The Department of Education (DepEd) has expressed its gratitude to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for their crucial assistance in transporting digital equipment to schools nationwide, a key step in enhancing digital education across the country.

The AFP, led by Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., played a pivotal role in the delivery of laptops, televisions, and other devices from a warehouse in Carmona, Cavite to various regions. This effort supports DepEd’s push to improve access to technology in schools through its Computerization Program (DCP).

In a coordinated effort, the AFP, led by Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., Commanding General LTGEN Roy Galido of the Philippine Army, and Commanding General LTGEN Stephen Parreño of the Philippine Air Force played a pivotal role in ensuring the hauling of the digital devices in a warehouse in Carmona, Cavite. The operation was further supported by Col. Jake Jumawan of the Philippine Army.

“We sincerely thank the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for their steadfast support in helping us deliver these essential digital tools to schools across the country. We needed to act fast and efficient on these logistical challenges and AFP came through with their usual support to the education sector,” Secretary Angara said.

DepEd highlighted the crucial support provided by the AFP in three key regions:

• Region VII: Transported 630 televisions, 630 laptops, and 630 laptop bags with accessories, aiding 156 schools and 407 teachers.
• CARAGA: Shipped 290 televisions and 290 external hard drives, benefitting 73 schools and 62 teachers.
• Region X, Cagayan de Oro: Transported 464 laptops, 464 laptop bags with accessories, and 264 televisions (ongoing effort to complete the shipment), supporting 412 schools and 686 teachers

The delivery of these items will support the digital learning needs of schools in the regions, contributing to DepEd’s efforts to improve access to technology in education through the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP).

During the Senate committee hearing on the DepEd’s budget, Sec. Angara also shared that the agency will implement reforms to avoid the repeat of warehousing issue in 2020 and 2021 which led to the late distribution of the said learning equipment, textbooks, and furniture.

The Department is set to implement early procurement activities and the bundling of the supply and delivery to schools of learning resources items.

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