A new online platform that will allow government agencies to directly buy supplies and
equipment from qualified and reliable suppliers is set to launch soon, according to the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman and Procurement Service (PS)-DBM
Executive Director Dennis Santiago said that the platform, called “eMarketplace”, is part
of the proposed amendments to Republic Act (RA) 9184 or the Government
Procurement Reform Act (GPRA).
Secretary Pangandaman explained that RA 9184, which was enacted 20 years ago,
aimed to improve transparency and competition, prevent corruption and political
interference, and reduce delays in the procurement process.
“The GPRA was one of the major anti-corruption laws in the country, which was even
recognized by the World Bank as a world-class legislation.
However, technology has changed rapidly in the past two decades, and the pandemic
has accelerated the need for digital transactions in the country. That’s why our
President is right that we need to update our government procurement to suit our
changing times,” said Sec. Pangandaman.
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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is reportedly very interested in the concept of
eMarketplace, which ED Santiago described as similar to online shopping sites Lazada
and Shopee.
“During the pandemic, you have the freedom to purchase [a product] directly from the
source, Shopee or Lazada became the platform. So we will also do the same. The
PhilGEPS (Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System) will have an
eMarketplace feature, where a supplier can put their product. But of course, we will
have mechanisms to ensure that the product that they put there is good, proper and
useful. We will work on making sure that the products that enter there are good and
beneficial for our government offices,” said Santiago.
The eMarketplace — which aims to eliminate the long and tedious procurement process
that has hampered the government’s delivery of products and services — will still
require suppliers to meet certain legal, technical and financial requirements to be able to
offer their goods in the system.
Pangandaman highlighted the vital impact of procurement on everyday life.
“Procurement affects us every day, not just us in the government, but the Filipino
people. Procurement issues have a negative effect on public service delivery. We have
also been plagued by controversies related to the Philippine procurement system. Of
our total national government budget, up to 25 percent is done through procurement.
So, this year, it’s roughly P1.3 trillion. It’s a huge amount,” said Pangandaman.
Santiago noted the government’s essential role in procurement.
“The biggest buyer [of goods and services] is the government, and 18 to 22 percent of
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is government procurement,” said Santiago.