Aside from observing austerity in light of the Ondoy and Pepeng tragedies, Kabataan Representative Mong Palatino today said the Department of Education should also exercise vigilance against anomalous bidding processes and purchasing overpriced goods.

Reacting to DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus’ order among DepEd offices to stay away from lavish celebrations, the youth solon said creating an efficient and transparent bidding process should be part of their austerity measure.

“DepEd needs an improved and transparent bidding and procurement process to ensure that the government is not wasting money buying overpriced supplies and fake healthy noodles or issuing teaching notes to correct textbook errors,” the young solon said.

Palatino said DepEd has been procuring overpriced goods for its programs, such as noodles, disposable dental needles, otoscopes and citronella shampoo.

He also said such irregularities in the bidding and procurement contribute to the agency’s problem of low budget allocation. “Nakakalungkot din isipin na kahit kulang na kulang na ang perang inilalaan para sa basic education, meron pa ring reports hinggil sa anomalous deals and allegations of corruption sa DepEd,” he said during today’s plenary hearing for the agency’s budget. ###