MANILA — Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Wednesday said he wanted to hasten the procurement process of textbooks for public schools.

During the launch of “Brigada Pabasa Partners Network”, he said delays in the delivery of textbooks affect the learning of students. 

“I found out that it takes 2-3 years to print a book or deliver a book, because it takes a year to do the manuscript, another year to proofread it, to send it out. Then another year na iba iba pang bidding iyon,” he said in his speech. 

“My predecessor narrowed that down to one year but I think we can probably do better,” he added.

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Angara also underscored the need for on-time delivery of learning materials that are updated and error-free. 

“Hindi siya responsive eh kasi sa mundo natin ang bilis na ng pagbabago. Iyong dapat ina-update mo na ang mga libro, so kapag late pa ang libro, hindi pa on time, tapos hindi pa lahat ng bata so apektado talaga ang pagturo at pagkaturo ng bata,” he told reporters. 

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BRIGADA PABASA NETWORK

On Wednesday, the Department of Education, World Vision Philippines, Angat Buhay, Philippine Business for Education and Philippine Business for Social Progress signed a manifesto expressing their commitment to boost literacy programs that would improve the quality of learning of students.

The “Brigada Pagbasa Partners Network” aims to serve as a platform to mobilize resources from private sector groups and civil society organizations to support the government in the fight against learning poverty.

It also intends to tap at least one million literacy advocates to equip 10 million learners with the necessary skills to reach their full potential as productive citizens.

Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) Chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr said he hoped this network would help address various interconnected and systemic problems in education such as “inadequate teacher training and support, lack of learning materials, and malnutrition,” among others.

“It is critical that we prioritize literacy, as it is the gateway for learning and success. If we do not address this fundamental issue, we risk having future generations of Filipinos facing illiteracy and incompetence, which would have far-reaching and detrimental effects to our nation's progress,” Del Rosario said.

“As we look to the future, the Brigada Pagbasa Partners Network  hopefully will serve as our platform for collaboration. Coming together with Philippine Business for Social Progress, Angat Buhay, World Vision Philippines, and partners like you, we can focus our collective resolve to address the learning crisis,” he added.

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Former Vice President and now Angat Buhay President Leni Robredo, meanwhile, shared her organization’s programs, such as community learning hubs, that benefited local communities.

Her foundation started the “Brigada Pagbasa”, a program that tapped tutor-volunteers during school break to help students who struggle to read.

Eventually, the program expanded to include higher education institutions and local government units as partners. 

“We are very, very excited to work with everyone. Kailangan po ditong mga areas who want to partner with us. As long as there is a higher educational institution that is willing to enter into a memorandum of agreement with Angat Buhay, we can show you the accomplishment which is very, very impressive,” Robredo said.

“It can be done at ito na ang magsasabuhay na it takes a village to raise a child,” she added.

Angara said he was willing to partner with various education stakeholders.

“The doors of DepEd are open to everyone who wants to help. And these are not a few doors. We are talking about 47,000 public schools, 60,000 schools in total. We are talking about 200 plus school divisions, we are talking about 17 regions all over the country. So there are a lot of doors. And if we open those, you are free to walk in,” he said in his speech.