Case study of implementation amidst corruption linkages: the National Textbook Delivery Program (TDP) of the Philippine Department of Education

Abstract

This article is subdivided into three closely linked parts. It initially starts with a description of the background and objectives of the Textbook Delivery Program (TDP). This is followed by an analysis of the factors of implementation on the basis of the field notes gathered during the inquiry. An analysis of the impact of these factors on policy implementation is highlighted in this section. The succeeding part explores cases of corruption and its intervening effects on TDP.

Keywords:

• policy
• corruption
• implementation
• reform
• textbook
• teachers

Acknowledgements

The conduct of research undertaken for this study was given due support and approval by the Office of the Secretary of the Philippine Department of Education as attested to by official correspondences numbered 14530 and 15353 duly signed by the Assistant Secretary and Chief of Staff Teodoro R. Catindig.

Notes

1. In order to honor the confidence of those persons who were interviewed in the course of this research, their names, and complete job designations are omitted here. Nonetheless, where data source is reported from an interview, the interviewee is identified by their position.

2. A Sub‐ARO and Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) are official documents issued by the DBM on approved purchase orders also known as Requisition and Issue Vouchers usually requested by Central Offices of government agencies. The Sub‐AROs and SAROs from DBM are usually charged to either the Bureau of Treasury or to the PDAF or the CDF also known as ‘pork barrel.’ Standard practice at the DBM stipulates that Sub‐AROs and SAROs should be accompanied by an official NCA. Government offices that have received the approved Sub‐AROs and SAROs and the accompanying NCAs can then issue official government checks to recipients.

3. In order to preserve the anonymity of the respondents, their actual names are not provided.

4. The allocation list is the official enumeration of books assigned per level per subject that emanates from the DepEd.