The Department of Education (DepEd) has lately come under fire from the Commission on Audit (COA) for acquiring “overpriced yet outmoded” computers for instructors. In defense of themselves, DepEd said that if it is discovered that the ₱2.4 billion worth of laptops were of poor quality, they will either look for a “rapid remedy” or use the warranty clause of these devices.
Unfortunately, the supplier stated that the latter was not a possibility during the most recent hearing on the matter.
Dell’s Country Manager Ronnie Latinaz stated at the Senate blue ribbon committee’s hearing on the purchase of laptops for DepEd teachers by the Department of Budget and Management’s (PS-DBM) procurement service that the manufacturer warranty does not cover repairing “outdated” computers.
Dell only offered laptops with an essential speed of 1.8 gigahertz and a cache size of 4 megabytes. They also have Intel Celeron CPUs, commonly seen in laptops priced around ₱16,000.
Latinazo was questioned by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
“So you, Dell Philippines, consciously knew that you were supplying a 1.8 gigahertz base speed. Now, if you are told after you have delivered the notebooks, the requirement is 1.9 gigahertz base speed… is that part of your warranty?”
Pimentel agreed with Latinazo’s swift “no” response because they were delivering what was requested.
Pimentel also questioned whether buying new co mputers because of the lack of warranty coverage would require the distributor to receive another payment round.
Latinazo shortly answered with, “Probably.”
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