The DepEd announced savings of at least ₱1.4 billion after purchasing more than 231,000 laptops for public school teachers through competitive bidding, including over 172,000 Apple MacBook Neo units in a deal that the technology company called its largest-ever education agreement for Mac computers.
Based on the disclosed winning bid prices, the total laptop procurement is valued at an estimated ₱9.7 billion to ₱10 billion, with the MacBook Neo allocation alone accounting for around ₱7.4 billion.
Of the 231,725 laptops awarded for teachers, 169,008 are MacBook Neo units, while the remaining 62,717 run on Windows. An additional 3,646 MacBooks were purchased for administrative officers, bringing the overall number of Apple devices to 172,654.
DepEd obtained the MacBook Neo package for approximately ₱43,000 per unit, considerably lower than the base model’s ₱49,900 suggested retail price in the Philippines.
The lower-priced package also comes with a five-year warranty, compared with the standard one-year coverage offered at retail, as well as productivity applications, nationwide delivery, logistics services, and professional training. According to DepEd, the full package carries an estimated commercial value of more than ₱70,000 per unit.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the competitive bidding process enabled the government to obtain more affordable prices while ensuring that teachers receive better-quality equipment.
“Our educators deserve reliable, high-performing technology without the government overpaying a single centavo,” Angara said on Nov. 6.
Apple also recognized the magnitude of the deal during its earnings announcement, with Chief Executive Officer John Ternus calling the Philippine purchase the company’s biggest education agreement for Mac computers.
The nationwide distribution formally started Monday, Nov. 9, with an initial ceremonial turnover at Dagupan City National High School attended by President Bongbong Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Angara. The suppliers are expected to finish delivering all units by March 2027.
