249 congressmen won't give up high-priced laptops

"It has nearly been a year since the laptops were distributed and we did not know it was meant for e-District that could have saved us costs on long-distance calls and cell phone use,’’ Palmones said.

Even Zambales Rep. Maria Milagros Magsaysay, who had castigated Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang for his procurement of allegedly overpriced computers and expensive Blackberry cell phones in a budget hearing recently, was mum about the pricey laptops she received.

However, the voice-over Internet protocol service of the laptops—an integral part of the e-District service—were found to have expired. Without the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service, the laptops would in essence cost P143,345 each.

The firm to deliver the required VoIP services

Pressed why he did not compel the firm to deliver the required VoIP services, Noel said he thought the system was working all along.

"I am no techie. In other words why the House is now looking into it because we were assured that the VoIP system, which I knew nothing about, had been installed at the South Wing," Noel said.

Noel said Advance Solutions Inc. was paid at length in July, nevertheless that he made sure to leave a balance of 10 percent to make sure the VOIP system was installed on-site in Batasan and off-site nationwide. ManilaStandardToday