Metro Manila, Philippines – Education Secretary Sonny Angara has signed a department order to speed up the agency’s procurement process, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Monday, Sept. 23.

The agency said the DepEd Memorandum 049, s. 2024 – which orders early procurement – is designed to fast-track purchases of textbooks and learning tools, as well as the rolling out of infrastructure projects for 2025.

DepEd said the bidding process for these projects will begin in October, with contracts expected to be awarded in January 2025. The move seeks to ensure that contracts for various services are issued ahead of the following fiscal year.

“This process covers all procurement stages — from posting opportunities to the recommendation of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) to the Head of Procuring Entities (HoPE) pending budget approval,” said DepEd.

“It applies to procurement projects via Competitive Bidding and Alternative Methods, excluding certain exceptions such as repeat orders, emergency cases, and small-value procurements,” it added.

The agency said the central office will focus on high-priority projects including the procurement of electronic textbooks, testing materials, and learning tools and equipment.

“Regional and Schools Division Offices (ROs and SDOs) will also conduct EPA for their respective projects, including those overseen by the Central Office such as smart-TV packages, laptops, school furniture, electrification projects, school health facilities, and the construction of last-mile school buildings,” the DepEd said.

The Commission on Audit earlier reported zero accomplishment in the delivery of information and communication technology packages such as laptops and smart TVs to schools in 2023 – under the helm of then Education Chief and Vice President Sara Duterte.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Lance Mejico contributed to this report