DepEd says it bought high-end, not entry-level, cameras

THE Department of Education said it had acquired high-end and not entry-level cameras amid questions over the supposedly high prices that it paid for these.

DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa also said not all of the questioned purchase proposals for cameras and other gadgets had pushed through.

The department is looking into allegations that it bought overpriced cameras after a photo circulated on social media showed a single reflex camera with a DepEd sticker indicating that it was worth P155,000. But the model in the photo was an entry-level device. 

More questions also arose after screenshots of Request for Quotation documents from the DepEd showed that it had allocated hundreds of thousands of pesos to buy gadgets. 

These showed quotations for cameras and other related equipment with budgets amounting to P500,000 and P816,000. These were requested by DepEd’s Administrative Service-Asset Management and Public Affairs Service Publication Divisions in 2019.

Poa said these proposals pushed through and the amounts quoted were based on market prices. 

“Yes natuloy and based on documentation provided, it appears that this was supported by a market survey,” he said.

He also said that for the P816,000 proposal, the cameras procured were 5D Mark IV Canon cameras.

Canon 5D Mark IV is one of the most sought DSLR models of camera enthusiasts and professionals due to its high resolution and versatile features. Compared to entry-level ones, this model enables users to take pro-level footage due to its 30.4-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor.

For the P500,000 proposal, Poa said he was still checking what cameras were procured. 

Another document from DepEd Caraga showed that it budgeted P170,000 for one mirrorless DSLR camera in September 2022. 

Bagong Alyansa Makabayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes Jr, who shared screenshots of the DepEd documents on Twitter, said the specifications for this particular proposal indicated that the camera was an entry-level device.

“Do the specs justify the approved budget?” he asked

Poa said this particular acquisition did not push through. 

“Based on initial communication with Caraga, that particular procurement was cancelled. Those cameras were initially intended for use in broadcast/livestream. Since the Regional ICT was able to eventually provide three conference cameras, the procurement of said DSLRs was cancelled,” he said. 

He also said he has asked  DepEd-Caraga to provide the Central Office with the basis used in coming up with the amount in the budget proposal.