The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) has highlighted a “critical geographic imbalance” being experienced in the country’s publishing industry.
Because of this, the distribution of learning materials to millions of students continues to face delays.
In a statement, EDCOM II said that the Department of Education (DepEd) has already addressed the long-standing problem in textbook procurement.
In 2024, the agency delivered 87 million books and procured more than 100 new titles.
Reforms under the Early Procurement Activities (EPA) also reduced the procurement timeline from 210 days to 60 days.
Despite these improvements, a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) emphasized that more reforms are still needed to address gaps in the supply chain.
According to EDCOM II, the issue persists, leaving the Visayas and Mindanao without sufficient local publishing capacity.
As a result, the commission urged the National Book Development Board (NBDB) to collaborate with DepEd in prioritizing book supply chains, improving the quality of locally produced books, and supporting publishers in the country.
(PHOTO COURTESY: DepEd)
