DepEd probes loss of P25.2-M textbooks

A thorough investigation is underway on the loss of some 820,000 Grade 2 learning materials that were discovered damaged by water in a warehouse of a private contractor last year according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

Education Secretary Leonor Briones is validating facts from the report of the Commission on Audit (COA) and its Bureau of Learning Resources (BLR) over the damaged materials worth over P25 million.

“The department continues to coordinate with the COA on developments and remains steadfast to its commitment to uphold transparency and accountability in all its transactions and in the responsible delivery of basic education resources and services,” the agency said in a statement Monday night.

“A review of the legal implications is also set,” it added.

In a 2017 audit report of the agency released over the weekend, state auditors called for an investigation of officials responsible for the loss of the learning materials.

It noted that the incident may be attributed to poor planning that resulted in nonavailability of the needed services and storage facilities for the purchased items.

Citing the report from the BLR, the DepEd said the damage was discovered in January 2017, months after the agency signed an agreement with Lexicon Press Inc. for the temporary safekeeping of the learning materials.

Lexicon was awarded the contract for the reprinting of 2,440,336 copies of Grade 2 learning materials in February 2016.

But due to failure of bidding for forwarding services and the refurbishment of DepEd’s warehouse in Taguig at the time, the printed materials had to be temporarily stored at Lexicon’s warehouse at no additional cost for the department.

Upon learning of the incident, the DepEd said the bureau “promptly dispatched its personnel to confirm the extent of damage but noted that it had neither information nor control over Lexicon’s decision to dispose of the damaged learning materials.”

The DepEd said it has committed to conduct further investigation and is establishing legal solutions to address the matter.