A major state procurement program will equip public school personnel nationwide with high-performance laptops while cutting government expenditure per unit well below commercial market rates.
The Department of Education (DepEd) completed the competitive bidding process for 172,654 Apple MacBook Neo laptops under its computerization program, securing each unit for P43,000.
The negotiated contract price reflects a P6,900 reduction per unit compared to the current suggested retail price of the base model in the Philippines.
In a statement Tuesday, the DepEd said the procurement marks a major step in the country’s digital education roadmap, following the conclusion of competitive bidding for the latest batch of equipment.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the initiative aims to ease the burden on teachers who have had to purchase their own laptops or maintain outdated equipment to prepare lessons and perform their duties.
“For the longest time, our teachers have carried the heavy personal burden of buying their own laptops or maintaining outdated equipment just to keep up with lesson plans. Under the vision of President Marcos, we are changing the narrative,” Angara said.
Angara also said the laptops come with five-year warranties and will be supported by training to help teachers maximize the technology in their work.
The five-year warranty coverage extends beyond the standard one-year period provided under the agency’s previous laptop procurements.
The transaction was highlighted by Apple CEO John Ternus during the company’s fourth-quarter 2026 financial results conference call, where he identified the contract as the largest education agreement in the product line’s history.
“We recently secured our biggest education deal ever for Mac, with the Department of Education in the Philippines. They’re going to deploy 170,000 MacBook Neos to teachers and staff,” Ternus said, as quoted by the DepEd.
Under the DepEd Computerization Program, the agency has awarded contracts for 231,725 teacher laptops nationwide, comprising 169,008 MacBook Neo units and 62,717 Windows-based laptops.
The newly secured batch of 172,654 MacBook Neo units is scheduled for deployment from November 2026 to March 2027.
The procurement package includes built-in productivity tools, delivery and logistics services, and professional development programs for recipient teachers.
To support integration into classroom instruction, the DepEd will partner with Apple to roll out GuroXL, a specialized teaching framework.
Malacañang welcomed the agreement, stating that the program aims to strengthen teachers’ digital skills, reduce administrative workloads, and advance technology-based learning in public schools.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the initiative is intended to help modernize education through the use of technology.