With the goal of ending the decade-long delay in the delivery of supplies, the Department of Education recorded a 289 percent increase in the procurement of textbooks.
According to the data of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), from 2012 to 2023, DepEd was able to procure only 27 titles of textbooks, where in only Grades 5 and 6 students were able to receive a complete set.
Fortunately, through the reforms initiated by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, DepEd was able to procure 105 titles within one year, equivalent to an increase of 289%.
DepEd’s acceleration of textbooks is expected to be sustained with the Senate and the House of Representatives support of securing P29.16 billion fund for the 103.9 million learning resources in the 2026 budget.
“Hindi pwedeng kulang-kulang ang hawak ng mga guro at bata.”
“Hindi pwedeng kulang-kulang ang hawak ng mga guro at bata. Kung gusto nating umangat ang kalidad ng pag-aaral, dapat kumpleto, tama, at napapanahon ang materyales na dumarating sa mga paaralan,” Angara said.
To sustain the momentum, DepEd will continue to use Republic Act 12009 or “New Government Procurement Act” which was principally authored by Angara while he was a senator.
The agency will also implement DepEd Order No. 8, s. 2025 mandating the pre-selection of titles before beginning the bidding phase.
In separating content evaluation and procurement, DepEd assured that only approved title shall be included in the bidding. This will also ensure fast and reliable delivery of books in 2026.
“Malinaw ang suporta na hindi dapat tipirin ang aklat at kagamitan kung ang nakataya ay ang kinabukasan ng kabataan.”
“Mula kay Pangulong Marcos at sa ating mga mambabatas, malinaw ang suporta na hindi dapat tipirin ang aklat at kagamitan kung ang nakataya ay ang kinabukasan ng kabataan,” the education chief said.
DepEd will also conduct Quality Assurance on the 176 textbook and teacher’s manual titles, 360 possible learning resource exemplars, 2,000 self-learning resource titles, and additional 1,000 titles for FY 2026 to complete the rollout of curriculum in all grade levels.
“Ayaw na nating maulit ang sitwasyon kung saan huli dumarating ang libro o kulang ang kagamitan. Nauuna ang paghahanda para mauna rin ang pagkatuto,” Angara concluded.
