OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE TRANSPAC ISSUE

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Department of Education (DepEd) has started hauling various learning resources from Transpac Logistics warehouses for distribution to public schools nationwide.

For context, the services of Transpac Logistics were procured by DepEd back in 2021. Under its contract, Transpac shall provide DepEd with logistics, warehousing, and tagging services from October 8, 2021 to June 30, 2022.

Due to the failure of Transpac to deliver the goods completely and on time, 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. 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.

On August 30, 2023, prompted by the lack of any concrete resolution to the issue, the DepEd partially terminated its contract with Transpac, in accordance with RA 9184, otherwise known as the Procurement Law.

On November 22, 2023, the DepEd also instituted legal proceedings, before the Regional Trial Court, to recover the goods that are still in Transpac’s possession.

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.

Therefore, our 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.

Finally, we would like to emphasize that this is not a simple case of unpaid warehouse fees as has been inaccurately framed by some outfits. 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.

We appeal 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.

Thank you.