Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 9) — The Department of Education (DepEd) said it was changing its policy regarding buffer stocks of books after a Commission on Audit report revealed ₱113.million worth of learning materials were kept in storage and remained unused.
Speaking to CNN Philippines Friday, DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla said, the COA report referred to an old policy in place from 2014 to 2017 which stated a buffer stock of material must be kept to replace lost or damaged learning materials. This is also to provide new students with learning materials, in the event enrollment increases or new schools are established.
“Pinag-aralan na namin yung polisiya kaya we are changing a lot already. Like the buffer should not be maintained in the central office, but ito po ay unti-unti na naming pinamimigay sa mga regions,” she said.
Sevilla said while the amount may seem high, it was less than 5 percent of the total budget allocated to procure books and learning materials.
She did, however, acknowlege the amount mentioned in the COA report was still high, thus the reason for the policy change.
“Mayroon ho kaming gagawin na framework agreement. Ibig sabihin, ang mga publisher or printing companies, hindi natin agad kukunin ang buffer fund na ito, kung hindi may mga season siguro or may certain percent tayo na ilalagay lamang at ipaparint lang natin kung nakikita natin na may pangangailangan,” said Sevilla.
Among the issues to be included in the revised policy would be to include an inventrory of books that need to be replaced.
The COA report said since 2014, only 23 percent of the total number of materials delivered to the DepEd have been distributed.
“The audit team has given emphasis in reiterating the observations and recommendations in previous years and may consider these procured and undistributed/unutilized buffer stocks as wastage of government resources,” the COA said.
DepEd, tinawagan ng pansin ng COA sa mga hindi nagagamit na textbooks #CNNPHBalitaan pic.twitter.com/Qva5PWoHdl
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) August 9, 2019
