IN REFERENCE to the statement of the Philippine Book Development Federation (“Luistro circumventing RA 8047,” Letters, 10/20/15), the Department of Education would like to clarify that Department Order No. 44, s. 2013 (Moratorium on the Procurement of Supplementary Reading, Reference, and other Instructional Materials) came about in response to the need to review and revisit the existing guidelines and polices related to the procurement of instructional materials (IMs). It aims to uphold transparency in such transactions and procurement activities, and ensure that the supplementary reading materials and other IMs are aligned with the K-to-12 curriculum.
The DepEd has always promoted a love for and the habit of reading among Filipino learners through its library hubs. To date, there are 206 library hubs nationwide with over 4.3 million supplementary reading materials. These can be used by teachers and students to help improve reading skills, vocabulary, knowledge and critical thinking abilities.
Also, the DepEd abides by the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184 and its implementing rules and regulations on procurement. The manuscripts are in “Volume V: Manual of Procedures for the Procurement of Manuscripts for Textbooks and Teacher’s Manual,” which was approved by the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) in 2010 through Resolution No. 01-2010, dated Jan. 29, 2010.
The DepEd follows the stages involved in the evaluation and selection process of manuscripts to ensure the quality of the learning materials. The printing and delivery of textbooks and teacher’s manuals for use in public schools nationwide shall be procured in accordance with the bidding processes for the procurement of goods and services. To encourage market participation and competition, the DepEd also abides by the guidelines contained in GPPB Resolution No. 04-2012, dated Feb. 24, 2012, on the cost of bidding documents.
—ANNA CRISTINA M. GANZON, assistant secretary and chief of staff, Department of Education