Budget chief Pangandaman: Give us chance to clean PS-DBM

Amid calls for the abolition of the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM), Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Friday called on lawmakers to give them a chance to address the issues hounding the agency.

During a budget briefing at the House of Representatives, AAMBIS-OWA party-list Representative Lex Anthony Colada asked Pangandaman if she subscribes to the proposals to abolish the PS-DBM.

The PS-DBM is once again on the spotlight due to its flagged procurement of laptops for the Department of Education (DepEd) for the implementation of distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The procurement agency was also linked to alleged irregularities surrounding the purchase of face masks, face shields, and other pandemic supplies with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. in 2020.

“Of course, I will defer to the wisdom of the Congress if they wish to really abolish PS-DBM. Let me just state that during the time when I was with Secretary [Benjamin] Diokno in 2017 to 2019, one of the benefits of the PS-DBM is actually the savings the government incurred during that time which is worth P18 billion,” Pangandaman said.

“I think, if we give the chance to PS-DBM and if we clean the process of procurement in the PS-DBM, maybe we can go back to its old glory,” she said.

Pangandman served as an undersecretary during Diokno's time as DBM chief from 2016 to 2019.

Several lawmakers, including the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives, are calling for PS-DBM's abolition, saying it has been a breeding ground for corruption, inefficiency, and negligence in government.

Earlier, the PS-DBM announced it is suspending the procurement of non-common use supplies and equipment (Non-CSE) for government agencies until further notice to focus on the fulfillment of our primary mandate, which is to procure CSEs. 

PS-DBM is mandated to procure common-use office supplies, materials, and equipment such as, but not limited to, ballpens, papers, stapler, paper clips, folders, and the like for all government agencies.

The procurement agency has sought the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) assistance in investigating the acquisition of laptops for the DepEd.

The Commission on Audit (COA) had flagged the DepEd's purchase of laptops for teachers, describing the purchased equipment as "pricey and outdated" as there were more affordable and better options available.

In its annual audit, COA said the purchase of the more expensive laptops resulted in the procurement of fewer units, depriving over 28,000 teachers of the benefit.

The audit report said that the 68,500 laptops that were supposed to be procured were reduced to 39,583 units mainly due to the huge increase in the estimated cost — from P35,046 to P58,300, anchored on the PS-DBM's recommendation that was duly accepted by the DepEd.

State auditors said the DepEd settled and agreed with the price and technical specifications provided by PS-DBM. —KBK, GMA News