DepEd says open bidding saved P1.4B on teachers' laptops

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education said it saved at least P1.4 billion in procuring more than 231,000 laptops for public school teachers by putting the contracts out to open bidding instead of negotiating with suppliers.

DepEd confirmed earlier this week that it bought 172,654 Apple MacBook Neo laptops, mostly for public school teachers, at about P43,000 each, roughly P6,900 below their retail price in the Philippines. The other 62,717 laptops for teachers run on Windows.

The department said winning bids ranged from about P41,200 to P42,700 per MacBook and P41,000 to P42,200 per Windows laptop, all within its budget ceiling of P42,718.  

"Our educators deserve reliable, high-performing technology without the government overpaying a single centavo," Education Secretary Sonny Angara said on Friday, November 6.

DepEd awarded 78 contracts for the laptops to six suppliers, four for the MacBooks and two for the Windows units. Based on the unit prices it disclosed, the contracts are worth an estimated combined P9.7 billion to P10 billion.

Angara said the department drew more bidders by widening its search for suppliers and updating its technical specifications.

Each laptop comes with a five-year warranty, which DepEd said is the longest it has secured for laptops, compared with the standard one-year retail warranty.

The department put the commercial value of the full package, which includes productivity software, delivery to schools and teacher training, at more than P70,000 per unit.

Distribution starts on Monday, Nov. 9, and suppliers have until March 2027 to deliver all units. 

Schools and division offices will check eligibility under guidelines DepEd plans to issue soon, which give priority to teachers who have not yet received a government-issued laptop.

DepEd's orders for the MacBook units are Apple's biggest education deal for Mac, chief executive John Ternus said on Monday when he disclosed it during the company's quarterly earnings call.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers said the purchase still leaves most of the country's nearly 900,000 public school teachers without a government-issued laptop.

DepEd's previous laptop purchases have drawn allegations of overpricing and bid-rigging. In 2021, the department, through the Procurement Service (PS) of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), paid P58,300 each for laptops with low-end processors, against an approved budget of P35,000 per unit.

The Commission on Audit flagged the P2.4-billion purchase, which covered 39,583 teachers instead of the roughly 108,000 originally planned. In July 2025, the Ombudsman ordered graft charges filed against former Education Secretary Leonor Briones, former PS-DBM chief Lloyd Christopher Lao and other officials over the deal.

abtestabtest LIST: VP Sara’s witnesses for Nov. 9–13 hearings By Cristina Chi | 1 day ago  Vice President Sara Duterte’s lawyers have submitted a witness lineup for the Senate impeachment proceedings... Headlines Fact check: Viral post falsely tags e-trikes at Marcos’ plant visit as gov't vehicles By Geraldine Santos | 1 day ago Viral post mislabels e-trikes at Marcos’ plant visit as new government vehicles. Headlines VP defense seeks subpoena for 24 witnesses By Marc Jayson Cayabyab | 17 hours ago The Senate impeachment court has been asked by the defense camp to subpoena 24 witnesses for the resumption of Vice President... Headlines Philippines embassy in Washington hopes for immigration policy changes By Pia Lee-Brago | 17 hours ago The Philippines’ top diplomat in Washington hopes for changes in the United States’ immigration policy after the... Headlines Speaker rejects corruption claims in budget process By Delon Porcalla | 17 hours ago Breaking his silence on the controversy over insertions in the 2027 national budget by members of the House of Representatives,... Headlines Latest More in Headlines VP Sara to visit Hong Kong ahead of impeachment trial resumption PCG responds to oil spill off Mariveles, Bataan Senate impeachment court reimposes gag order for withdrawn articles Cavite pet crematorium contracted Bulacan couple to cremate pets — NBI abtest Marcos Jr. picks Zalameda as next chief justice By Alexis Romero | 17 hours ago  An appointee of former president Rodrigo Duterte to the Supreme Court who has been in the legal profession for more... Headlines Romualdez has personal staff in jail – warden By Daphne Galvez | 17 hours ago  Former House speaker Martin Romualdez has a personal staff staying with him around the clock in his cell at the New... Headlines ‘Very strong’ El Niño prevailing, to persist until 2027 By Josiah Antonio | 17 hours ago A “very strong” El Niño is now prevailing in the tropical Pacific and may reach its peak by the end of... Headlines Philippines eyes acquisition of more BrahMos missiles By Pia Lee-Brago | 17 hours ago The Philippines has set its sights on acquiring more Indian BrahMos missiles to strengthen the country’s deterrence... Headlines Recommended Joseph Sy skips Senate probe on fake citizenship 17 hours ago Mining magnate Joseph Sy skipped yesterday’s Senate hearing on his alleged fake Filipino citizenship. HeadlinesJOSEPH SY Philippines embassy in Washington hopes for immigration policy changes 17 hours ago The Philippines’ top diplomat in Washington hopes for changes in the United States’ immigration policy after the... HeadlinesJOSEROMUALDEZ VP defense seeks subpoena for 24 witnesses 17 hours ago The Senate impeachment court has been asked by the defense camp to subpoena 24 witnesses for the resumption of Vice President... HeadlinesDUTERTESARA DUTERTESENATE LIST: VP Sara’s witnesses for Nov. 9–13 hearings 1 day ago  Vice President Sara Duterte’s lawyers have submitted a witness lineup for the Senate impeachment proceedings... HeadlinesDEFENSEDUTERTESARA DUTERTE'S IMPEACHMENT Fact check: Viral post falsely tags e-trikes at Marcos’ plant visit as gov't vehicles 1 day ago Viral post mislabels e-trikes at Marcos’ plant visit as new government vehicles. HeadlinesBONGBONG MARCOSFACT CHECKFACT-CHECK next Recommended Joseph Sy skips Senate probe on fake citizenship Mining magnate Joseph Sy skipped yesterday’s Senate hearing on his alleged fake Filipino citizenship. 17 hours ago JOSEPH SY Philippines embassy in Washington hopes for immigration policy changes The Philippines’ top diplomat in Washington hopes for changes in the United States’ immigration policy after the Democrats won both the House and the Senate in the midterm elections. 17 hours ago JOSE ROMUALDEZ VP defense seeks subpoena for 24 witnesses The Senate impeachment court has been asked by the defense camp to subpoena 24 witnesses for the resumption of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Nov. 9. 17 hours ago DUTERTE SARA DUTERTE SENATE LIST: VP Sara’s witnesses for Nov. 9–13 hearings  Vice President Sara Duterte’s lawyers have submitted a witness lineup for the Senate impeachment proceedings.  1 day ago DEFENSE DUTERTE SARA DUTERTE'S IMPEACHMENT Fact check: Viral post falsely tags e-trikes at Marcos’ plant visit as gov't vehicles Viral post mislabels e-trikes at Marcos’ plant visit as new government vehicles. 1 day ago BONGBONG MARCOS FACT CHECK FACT-CHECK OK Are you sure you want to log out? Yes No X Login Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!