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By Jonathan M. Hicap, Reporter
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus
welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court dismissing the case filed
by a losing textbook bidder on technicality.
“The High Court’s favorable
decision is really good news for our public-school students. But
while we look at more ways at improving procurement at DepEd, we are
happy that we already made substantial gains,” Lapus said.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court
declared as legal the textbook contract between the Department of
Education and Vibal Publishing House and Watana Phanit Printing and
Publishing Co. for the supply and delivery of 17.5 million Makabayan
textbooks and teacher’s manuals.
“With our efforts, we have
reduced the cost of textbooks by more than half, this while we have
also improved the quality of the paper used,” Lapus said.
He said major improvements in the
procurement of textbooks have been noted even as the department is
adopting reform measures to further enhance its capability to
provide quality textbooks for all public schools nationwide.
He said that as part of ongoing
textbook procurement reforms, the bidding for content has been
separated from the bidding for printing, beginning with the
procurement of English textbooks this year.
“We want a wider playing field
from among qualified suppliers and we encourage printers with good
records to join the bidding,” Lapus said.
He said there are now three bids
and awards committees (BACs) in order to improve efficiency and
transparency.
Lapus emphasized that the
department is providing stringent measures to eliminate textbook
content errors.
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