CAGAYAN DE Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez filed a measure that will decentralize the textbooks procurement program of the Department of Education.

In filing House Bill 5374, Rodriguez sought to create a division called Textbook Procurement Services Unit in all provincial and city division offices including those in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The measure will repeal Republic Act 8047 or the Book Publishing Industry Development Act.

Rodriguez said that the highly centralized procurement of books resulted in the delay of delivery of books to the provinces particularly those in the far-flung areas.

“Also, there are reports that books and other educational materials were left stocked in warehouses to deteriorate instead of being used by our elementary and secondary students” he said in his explanatory note.

The centralized procurement resulted in the purchase of books not adaptable or suited to the region or province, the lawmaker said.

“It must be stressed that a centralized procurement of textbooks and other educational materials is highly susceptible to abuse by scrupulous publishers. This in turn could result in a monopoly to the detriment of small and medium publishers particularly those in the regions, provinces, cities or municipalities,” he added