Palace: DepEd can handle error-filled textbooks issue

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has vouched for the integrity of Education Secretary Leonor Briones as her agency is facing controversy over the production of P254 million worth of error-filled textbooks.

In a 2018 report, the Commission on Audit (COA) called out the Department of Education (DepEd) for spending P254.4 million for public school textbooks that contain errors and deficiencies. The error-filled learning materials include books on social studies, science and English, according to the state auditor. 

Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned teachers has asked Congress to investigate the textbook controversy, saying somebody should be held accountable for it.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo expressed confidence that Briones would not permit any wrongdoing in her agency. Panelo noted that the education chief has responded to the findings of COA. 

“As far as I know, the secretary of education is a very competent, intelligent educator and she is someone who will never allow any irregularity or any anomaly inside her department,” Panelo said in an interview. 

The DepEd has attributed the COA report findings to “late updating of consolidated reports and reconciliation of voluminous records with implementing units.”

The agency said most of the accounts have already been reconciled, while some are just completing documentation, so they are not yet liquidated. 

Program teams have also been instructed to comply with “strict controls,” it added.