DBM to launch online platform for gov’t procurement

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it plans to launch an online platform, or electronic marketplace, where government agencies can directly procure supplies and equipment from reputable suppliers.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Procurement Service (PS)-DBM Executive Director Dennis Santiago will announce the upcoming launch of the platform dubbed "eMarketplace,'' which forms part of the proposed amendments to Republic Act (RA) 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA).

"The GPRA was one of the biggest anti-corruption laws in the country, which was, in fact, recognized by no less than the World Bank as world-class legislation," said Pangandaman, noting that the law signed 20 years ago was "envisioned to address the lack of transparency and competition, eliminate collusion and political interference, and lessen delays in the procurement process."

"However, there has been a rapid transformation in technology over the past two decades, and the pandemic propelled the urgency for digital transactions in the country. That’s why our President is correct that we need to make government procurement more attuned to our changing times," she said. 

Santiago said the planned eMarketplace will be similar to online shopping platforms Lazada and Shopee.

"During the pandemic, you have the liberty to purchase [a product] directly from the source, naging platform po si Shopee o si Lazada. So tayo rin po, ganun ang mangyayari (Shopee and Lazada were the platforms. We will create the same)," said the PS-DBM chief.

"Ang PhilGEPS [Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System] may eMarketplace feature, maglalagay po ng produkto ruon ang isang supplier (The PhilGEPs has an eMarketplace feature, where suppliers can place their products)," he added. 

The PS-DBM chief said the agency is crafting mechanisms to ensure that the products to be placed on the platform are of good quality and useful.

The DBM said eMarketplace, which aims to do away with the long, tedious procurement process that has caused delays in the government’s delivery of products and services, will still require suppliers to comply with identified legal, technical, and financial requirements to be able to place their goods in the system.

"Procurement affects us every day—not just us, the government, but the Filipino people. Procurement issues have an adverse impact on public service delivery. We have also been hounded by controversies linked to the Philippine procurement system," said Pangandaman.

"Of our total national government budget, up to 25% is done via procurement. So, this year, it’s roughly P1.3 trillion. It’s a huge amount," she added. 

Santiago also stressed the role of government spending in the country's economy. 

"The biggest purchaser [of goods and services] is the government, and 18 to 22% of GDP (gross domestic product) is government procurement," he said. — VBL, GMA Integrated News