Lawmaker seeks probe of DepEd books

MANILA, Philippines – A senior congressman is seeking the re-opening of a House investigation into the alleged collusion between Department of Education (DepEd) officials and textbook suppliers in the distribution of error-ridden books.

Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella said Congress, with its oversight functions, should look into the questionable implementation of the World Bank’s Second Social Expenditure Management Contract with DepEd, citing the case as “another disturbing development.”

In November 2007, five companies, under the JTW Consortium, bagged a P500-million contract for the printing and delivery of textbooks to public elementary schools across the country.

“It seems that the DepEd has not learned its lessons from the past. And these suppliers seem to have a mantle of invulnerability,” Puentevella said in a recent privilege speech.

Textbook companies under the JTW consortium are SD Publications Inc., Vibal Publishing House Inc., LAMCO Paper Products Co. Inc., and Watana Phanit Printing Co.

“Not only have they remained untouched by all the irregularities concerning their various transactions, but they continue to corner a large share of the market in DepEd textbook requirements,” Puentevella said.

Both houses of Congress, he said, had conducted inquiries.

In 2006, the Senate, through opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson, discovered that 60,000 textbooks delivered had inverted pages, no margins, and loose binding.

The books, published by the group, also contained “factual and grammatical errors” that forced DepEd to issue a 21-page teacher’s manual titled “Errata Para sa Sibika at Kultura at Hekasi,” wherein one copy was provided for each classroom.

Lacson raised the irregularities of the bidding in the procurement of textbooks worth P2 billion under the WB.

He also questioned the awarding of contract to Vibal, which bagged 75 percent of the contracts, amounting to P2.65 billion since 1999.

In pushing for the revival of the House probe, Puentevella lamented that the House committee on education did not recommend the filing of charges against DepEd officials after former secretary Ricardo Gloria apologized and 36 other books were pulled out.

The lawmaker also wanted the members of the Instructional Materials Council and the DepEd’s official textbook evaluators to be sanctioned or brought to court because they were found to have committed “grave negligence” in reviewing the books. – Delon Porcalla