THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the guidelines for the pilot implementation of an online platform or electronic marketplace for government agencies’ procurement of supplies and equipment from reputable suppliers.
The DBM said yesterday that Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, who sits as the chair of the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB), has approved the GPPB Resolution 06-2024 dated Oct. 4, 2024.
The GPPB Resolution 06-2024, titled “Approving the Proposed Guidelines for the Pilot Implementation of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System Electronic Marketplace,” would set the stage for the trial run of the government procurement e-marketplace, according to the Budget Department.
“Tuloy na tuloy na po ang ‘add to cart’ sa ating government procurement systems! Sa paglabas po ng bagong guidelines, uusad na po tayo sa trial phase ng ating e-marketplace,” said Pangandaman.
“Masaya po tayo sa progreso ng ating digitalization efforts para sa procurement systems, lalo na’t ilang buwan palang po noong maisabatas ang NGPA,” said the Budget chief.
In July, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inked Republic Act 12009 or the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), which amended the 20-year old Government Procurement Reform Act.
Among the new law’s salient features was the use of alternative modes of procurement such as the creation of an “e-marketplace” for government’s purchase of common-use supplies and equipment (CSE) through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).
Meanwhile, the DBM said the new guidelines on implementing the e-marketplace for government procurement “would ensure a successful pilot and eventual nationwide implementation.”
The Budget Department said pilot phase will focus on specific common-use supplies and equipment, particularly motor vehicles, airline tickets, cloud computing services, and software licenses, to guarantee that the e-marketplace is tested in a controlled and measurable environment.
It added that each CSE will undergo rigorous validation by the PS-DBM to confirm compliance with technical standards and readiness for inclusion.
The guidelines were developed by the GPPB through extensive consultations with government agencies, according to the DBM.
Moreover, feedback from stakeholders was carefully integrated to align the e-marketplace’s features with the practical needs of its users.
The DBM said the digital platform streamlines procurement activities by offering a centralized online system where government requirements are met with greater accessibility and clarity under a robust legal framework. (GMA Integrated News)
