by Lannie Walker

Guam - Last Friday KUAM News reported about the Government of Guam's latest purchase of iPads - two were confirmed for Department of Administration acting director Benita Manglona and her financial manager. General Services Agency chief procurement officer Claudia Acfalle signed off on paperwork to add on two more iPads to DOA's request Bringing the total to four of the tablet computers.

Acfalle wasn't available Friday to explain why.

Today, however, she says they're going to two of her technicians, telling KUAM News, "We actually can justify that by the surplus technicians taking pictures of the, you know, the iPad has a camera to take pictures and it also downloads sets it up in the profile already and when they return to the office they just download it to the bid setup from the iPad to their actual computers."

Acfalle says the use of the iPads as opposed to regular cameras will increase productivity by 70% because her technicians won't have to return to the office every time they take a picture to update a file. She adds her techs service about 60 pieces of government equipment per day. Acfalle says DOA deputy director George Santos approved the changes, while Manglona was off-island.

In terms of the funding for the iPads, Manglona told KUAM News it was from GSA surplus funds. Acfalle says the GSA fund currently has a balance of $20,000.