a.  Basic textbooks shall continue to be given priority in the allocation of funds, regardless of source, for the purchase of instructional materials;

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b.  All purchases of supplementary and reference materials starting January CY 2001 shall be based on DECS Order No. 78, s. 2000 and this DECS Order and in accordance with existing guidelines on the desired number of materials that may be provided each school or library as stated in DECS Order No. 6, s. 1998 (Annex2) ;

c.  DECS offices may use savings from their budgets for MOOE, schoolboard, and other non-DECS funds to procure materials included in this DECS Order;

d.  DECS offices should purchase supplementary and reference materials only from duly accredited suppliers of the Department who are duly authorized to market the same. Other government and nongovernment entities who intend to purchase materials found herein are also advised to purchase said materials from duly accredited suppliers of the Department;

e.  The prices contained herein are ceiling prices. Thus, purchasing entities are advised to negotiate for discounts from suppliers particularly when large volumes of purchases are involved, consistent with the established practice in the publishing industry, in order to secure the best terms for the government; and

f.  Any purchase of supplementary and reference materials should be based on specific needs, priorities, and/or validated requests of public elementary and secondary schools.