The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday, Dec. 15, announced that the learning materials allegedly held “hostage” by a service supplier will soon be distributed to public schools nationwide.

In a statement, DepEd said it started “hauling various learning resources” from Transpac Logistics warehouses for distribution to public schools across the country.

Transpac issue

DepEd explained that the services of Transpac Logistics were procured by the agency back in 2021.

Under its contract, DepEd said Transpac shall provide the department with “logistics, warehousing, and tagging services” from Oct. 8, 2021, to June 30, 2022.

However, due to the “failure” of the service supplier to deliver the goods “completely and on time,” DepEd said several discussions were held between the parties for the fulfillment of Transpac’s obligations.

“Since the present Administration assumed office, continuous efforts were made to either compel delivery of the goods as required by contract, or for DepEd to be allowed to pull out and haul the learning resources from the warehouses — to no avail,” DepEd explained.

“Thus, in the exercise of diligence, and in the interest of recovering the goods by all means necessary, DepEd was constrained to resort to legal remedies,” it added.

Prompted by the “lack of any concrete resolution” to the issue, the DepEd “partially terminated” its contract with Transpac, per Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the Procurement Law on Aug. 30, 2023,

DepEd added that on Nov. 22, 2023, it also “instituted legal proceedings” before the Regional Trial Court, to “recover the goods” that were still in Transpac’s possession.

However, the agency noted that “sometime in the first week” of December 2023, the DepEd was in “receipt of a letter from Transpac suddenly informing DepEd that it may now haul the goods stored in its warehouses.”

For distribution

Following this, DepEd said its Regional and Division offices have immediately started hauling the goods.

“The DepEd aims to completely haul and deliver the goods to our public schools in the next few weeks,” the agency said.

Complex case

Related to this, DepEd emphasized that the Transpac issue is “not a simple case of unpaid warehouse fees.”

“Payment to providers may only be done upon the fulfillment of obligations and corresponding submission of complete documentation as required by accounting, auditing and other pertinent rules and regulations for the disbursement of funds,” DepEd stressed.

Regarding this, DepEd appealed to the public to “remain vigilant against the spread of false and misleading information.”

“DepEd remains committed to safeguarding the public interest, so that our learners and stakeholders will not be shortchanged of the education services they deserve,” it added.