Public schools as magnets for thieves.  Schools which were recipients of the ongoing DepED Computerization Project are the best targets for thieves, moreover schools positioned along national highways or roads is a plus for them.    In some instances, these pilfers would act as honchos of a huge private company then claiming that their company will be donating computers but required to inspect the schools ICT or multi-media room to know the capacity of computers to be donated.  But alas these surveys are only meant to study on how to rob the school of their ICT equipment.

The Department of Education Computerization Project (aka DCP) was launched and implemented in 2010 by way of DepED Order No. 78, s. 2010.  Since its implementation, starting from CY 2013 various districts and schools heads are submitting reports that their School was ransacked mostly of their DCP computers.  Recently, reports coming from Mankayan district claiming that on the eve of November 22, 2015, three schools were continuously robbed of their DCP & SEDIP ICT equipment.  Interviews from the school heads say that the main reason is that there is no security mechanism in their schools due to lack of funds to augment for the safekeeping of their schools.

Lastly, these incidents may have been averted if the DepED rationalization program did not freeze the hiring or releasing of funds for schools to hire or employ security guards and watchman.  This article also serves as a warning for other schools who are DCP recipients or with ICT equipments for them to heighten their school security measures and be vigilant to any unscrupulous offers. – Eric S. Wanson & Richard L. Butale