President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and Education Secretary Sonny Angara, on Monday led the ceremonial launch of the nationwide distribution of more than 231,000 laptops for public school teachers. The initial turnover of 209 Apple MacBook Neo units took place in Dagupan City, marking the start of the rollout under the Department of Education’s Computerization Program.
Marcos announced that the government is procuring more than 230,000 additional laptops for teachers. These consist of around 169,000 Apple MacBook Neo units and more than 62,000 Acer units. An additional approximately 3,600 Apple MacBook Neo laptops were also procured for administrative staff to help process paperwork faster and support efficient school operations.
“Today, I am happy to be able to report that we are currently procuring more than 230,000 additional laptops for our teachers. This will consist of around 169,000 Apple Macbook Neo units, and more than 62,000 Acer units,” Marcos said during the ceremonial turnover. “In addition, we also procured around 3,600 Apple Macbook Neo laptops for the admin staff so they can process the necessary paperwork faster to help keep our schools running efficiently.”
The President emphasized that the devices would enable teachers to pursue further studies, integrate digital tools into classroom instruction, and complete their work more efficiently. Education Secretary Sonny Angara underscored that providing modern technology would help ease teachers’ workloads and address longstanding challenges in the profession.
Of the 231,725 laptops allocated for teachers, 169,008 are MacBook Neo units while 62,717 are Windows-based laptops. A further 3,646 MacBook Neo devices are designated for administrative officers. Each laptop package includes built-in productivity tools, nationwide delivery, professional training, and a five-year extended warranty. The estimated commercial value of each package exceeds PHP70,000. Through competitive public bidding, DepEd reported savings of at least PHP1.4 billion compared with standard retail prices.
To ensure teachers can fully utilize the new devices, DepEd and the National Educators Academy of the Philippines will implement GuroXL, a comprehensive training program. The initiative leads to Apple Teacher certifications and specialized technology leadership credentials.
Teachers who received the initial units expressed appreciation. Myleen Boquiren of East Central Integrated School said, “I personally can better my job and my instructions with my students. Thank you, DepEd and thank you, President.” Values Education teacher Marjorie Mendoza noted that the laptop would significantly aid in school-related tasks and paperwork, which she previously handled using her personal device. “This is really very helpful. Thank you so much,” she said.
Under DepEd’s selection guidelines, priority goes to schools and teachers that have not yet received government-issued laptops, especially those actively leading educational technology initiatives. Schools will submit recipient lists through the Teacher Assignment for Laptop Allocation (TALA) system, a new application designed for device inventory and property management. Suppliers have until March 2027 to complete deliveries to beneficiary schools across the country.
The program forms part of broader efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure in public education. By equipping teachers with modern tools and structured training, the initiative aims to improve instructional quality, reduce administrative burdens, and support continuous professional development. The combination of hardware, warranty coverage, training pathways, and systematic allocation is intended to deliver sustainable benefits rather than one-time device handovers.
Officials highlighted that the competitive bidding process not only secured substantial savings but also ensured standardized packages with long-term support. The five-year extended warranty and nationwide delivery logistics are designed to minimize disruptions and maintain device usability over an extended period. Training under GuroXL is expected to build teacher confidence in integrating technology into lesson planning, student engagement, and assessment practices.
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The initial distribution in Dagupan City serves as the visible starting point for a phased national rollout. Subsequent batches will follow the same priority criteria and inventory tracking through TALA. Administrative staff will also benefit from the dedicated MacBook Neo units, which are expected to streamline record-keeping, reporting, and coordination tasks that often compete with teachers’ instructional time.
Overall, the laptop distribution represents a significant investment in the teaching workforce. By pairing devices with professional development and efficient allocation mechanisms, the program seeks to translate technology provision into measurable improvements in classroom practice and school operations. Delivery completion by March 2027 remains the key operational target, after which the focus will shift fully to utilization, training outcomes, and ongoing support.
