The National Institute of Student Welfare (Inabie) announced on 8 April 2025 it has taken immediate action to ensure transparency and legal compliance in regards to the recent school supply procurement processes. The announcement follows allegations of irregularities highlighted by the investigative program “El Informe con Alicia Ortega” on Monday, 7 April 2025.
Noticias SIN reported that Inabie executive director Víctor Castro stated that the signing and certification of contracts with companies named in the investigative report, as well as others involved in processes for upcoming school years, have been immediately suspended.
“As executive director, I do not support any illegality, much less processes that contravene the provisions of the law,” the agency said in a statement.
Inabie requested the support of the Public Procurement Agency and Pro-Competencia (the national competition authority) in investigating the implicated companies and others with potential indications of irregularities.
Furthermore, Castro ordered the suspension of the expert appraisers who evaluated the aforementioned companies. He clarified that if evidence of illegal actions or omissions is found, their dismissal will follow.
To date, Inabie had reportedly not disbursed any funds to the companies mentioned in the report or any other participants in the current school supply procurement processes for the 2025-2026 academic years.
Since 2022, the institution has suspended over 50 companies for actions including unfair competition, document manipulation, and anti-competitive practices. In February of this year, permanent disqualification from the State Supplier Registry was requested for five companies due to document falsification, and nine others were referred to Pro-Competencia for suspected collusion.
Castro emphasized that, as part of government efforts to support local production, INABIE has increased its demand for school products from 650,000 units to nearly 2 million. This has significantly impacted the textile and footwear industries, particularly benefiting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (Mipymes).
Additionally, the director announced the creation of an Internal Risk and Compliance Unit. This unit will aim to strengthen due diligence mechanisms within the organization and anticipate potential cases of corruption, including money laundering.
“We are an administration solely committed to the well-being of students and the strengthening of national industry,” Castro stated.
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El Caribe
Noticias SIN
9 April 2025