Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) denounced this Monday alleged irregularities in bidding processes carried out by the National Institute of Student Welfare (Inabie) for the acquisition of school shoes, while warning about the supposed low quality of the imported footwear that is intended to be acquired for the next school year.
During a press conference, the former director of Inabie and member of the PLD Central Committee, René Jáquez, stated that the anomalies date back to the INABIE-CCC-LPN-2024-0012 process, intended for the manufacturing and acquisition of school shoes for the 2025-2027 periods.
As explained, out of the 172 bids received in that tender, 101 suppliers were awarded contracts. However, it was noted that the General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGCP) detected irregularities in 98 of those contracts, a situation that led to the annulment of 25 awards.
Jáquez maintained that, after those cancellations, the appropriate action was to call for a new public tender, but he asserted that the institution let time pass and subsequently resorted to an emergency process.
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“The use of an emergency procedure does not respond to an unforeseeable situation, but rather to a lack of planning and, apparently, to greater control over the awards,” he/she expressed.
Likewise, he denounced the participation of companies that, as he stated, were recently incorporated and without proven experience in the manufacture of school footwear.
Quality of imported shoes questioned
The PLD leader also criticized the intention to acquire imported shoes, arguing that they have lower quality, durability, and aesthetics compared to those manufactured by the national industry.
He indicated that import costs would be significantly lower than those of local production, which, in his view, would generate wide profit margins for importers while putting Dominican manufacturers at risk.
Jáquez defended the capacity of the national footwear industry, ensuring that over the last 14 years it has efficiently supplied the educational system’s demand with quality products and guarantees for the entire school year.
They demand transparency
On behalf of the PLD, the former official requested that the DGCP and Inabie ensure that no company without proven technical capacity is awarded a contract in the ongoing process.
He also requested that the infrastructure, personnel, machinery, and production capacity verifications be carried out rigorously and in person to ensure the transparency of the process.
“The PLD will remain vigilant. We will defend the students’ right to receive quality school supplies on time, as well as the jobs generated by the national industry,” he stated.
The activity was also attended by members of the PLD Political Committee, Melanio Paredes and Radhamés Camacho, along with other leaders of the organization.
