Marcos: Gov't saved P1.4 billion in MacBook deal for DepEd teachers, staff

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government was able to save P1.4 billion in its deal with Apple, where it secured MacBook Neo laptops well below the unit’s suggested retail price in the Philippines.

“Mas mura ang bawat laptop kumpara sa karaniwang presyo nito sa merkado. Kasama din dito ang delivery, limang taon warranty, software at training,” Marcos said in a “24 Oras” report by Ivan Mayrina on Tuesday.

(Each laptop is cheaper compared to its regular market price. This also includes delivery, a five-year warranty, software, and training.)

“Dahil dito, nakatipid ang ating pamahalaan ng P1.4 billion. Ang anumang natipid ay mailalaan sa ibang pangangailangan natin sa edukasyon,” he added.

(Because of this, our government saved P1.4 billion. Whatever is saved can be allocated to our other educational needs.)

The Department of Education (DepEd) secured more than 172,000 MacBook Neo laptops under the deal. Each unit was reportedly procured at P43,000, which is P6,900 lower than its current market price.

Apple described this landmark procurement as its "biggest education deal ever" for its MacBook line.

Amid concerns of overpricing and overspending, Education Secretary Sonny Angara assured that the deal underwent competitive bidding.

“Dito may proseso hong pinagdaraanan and that's called the competitive bidding under the Procurement Law. Definitely ang importante yung specs na maganda at ‘yung pabor talaga sa ating mga educators,” Angara said.

(Here, there is a process we undergo, and that's called competitive bidding under the Procurement Law. Definitely, what's important are good specs that truly favor our educators.)

Laptop distribution

In Dagupan City, more than 200 teachers have already been given some of the new MacBook Neo laptops.

Among them is Alysa Curameng, a teacher from West Central Elementary School, who envisions the new unit making their workload and lessons significantly easier.

“Lalo pong mapapadali ang ating trabaho at pagtuturo. Sa part po kasi ng laptop, kapag once na napuno na ‘yon… talagang, as in, nahihirapan din po ang mga teacher lalo na laging nalo-loading… as in talagang puno na,” Curameng said.

(It will truly make our work and teaching easier. As for the previous laptops, once they get full... it really becomes difficult for teachers, especially since they keep lagging when it’s completely full.)

Under DepEd’s Computerization Program, a total of 231,000 laptops will be distributed across the country. The rollout runs from November 2026 until March 2027.

Of the laptops to be distributed, more than 169,000 are MacBook Neos, while over 62,000 are Windows-based.

In Mayrina’s report, the government also distributed 3,646 MacBook Neo units to DepEd administrative officers.

With over 800,000 public school teachers nationwide, the department admitted it cannot yet provide a 1:1 laptop ratio.

However, under agency guidelines, priority in receiving new units is given to teachers who have not yet received any government-issued laptop.

Angara emphasized that while the gadgets are issued to teachers, they remain government property.

“Government property po ‘yan. ‘Pag binenta ho nila ‘yan, e di babayaran nila ‘yan. The IT officer, each school has an IT officer, so siya ‘yung parang custodian,” Angara noted.

(That is government property. If they sell that, they will pay for it. There is an IT officer in every school who acts as the custodian.) – Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/BAP, GMA News