DepEd eyes delivery of textbooks by June 2025 via early procurement

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education is aiming to complete its delivery of new textbooks to schools by June next year in time for the opening of classes, with e-learning carts to follow in July, according to its new timeline for the procurement of new school materials in 2025. 

According to a memorandum released on Monday, September 23, all DepEd offices from the central office down to the school division level will conduct procurement activities starting October instead of January next year. The earlier procurement process aims to give DepEd a head start on procuring goods and services, including textbooks, learning tools, and infrastructure projects, for 2025, according to a DepEd news release. 

Education Secretary Sonny Angara told Philstar.com that the department aims to award contracts for projects as early as January. "In effect, the delivery of these goods would be completed earlier," he said.

"Given the indicative timeline of DepEd for [fiscal year 2025 Early Procurement Activities], the earliest possible completion of delivery of textbooks will be June 2025, and July 2025 for e-learning carts," the DepEd chief added.

According to DepEd Memorandum No. 49, series of 2024, which was signed last week, the department's central office will prioritize the following projects for early procurement:

In total, at least P12.4 billion in projects will be procured by the central office in advance. 

Meanwhile, the regional and schools division offices will also conduct early procurement for their respective projects, including those passed down from the central office. This includes the purchase of smart TV packages, laptops, school furniture, electrification projects, school health facilities and the construction of last-mile school buildings.

This initiative by DepEd follows earlier promises from Angara during the House of Representatives' deliberations of the 2025 DepEd budget. During the interpellation on September 2, Angara vowed to fast track the procurement of DepEd goods ahead of 2025 by conducting early procurement activities.

It was during the House budget hearings that lawmakers found out DepEd had not delivered a single laptop, smart TV or