Senate inquiry sought on new procurement law

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a resolution seeking a Senate inquiry into the implementation of the country’s new government procurement law to help ensure integrity in the use of public funds.

Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, said Senate Resolution No. 336 calls for a status check on the implementation of the New Government Procurement Act to ensure a smooth transition to the new system.

“Kasunod ito ng mga repormang itinulak natin sa budget process sa gitna ng mga naging kontrobersiya sa paggamit ng pondo ng bayan, kabilang ang flood control projects," he said in a statement.

(This follows the reforms we pushed for in the budget process amid controversies surrounding the use of public funds, including flood control projects.)

"Malinaw ang layunin: palakasin ang transparency, higpitan ang disiplina sa paggastos ng pondo, at paigtingin ang monitoring ng mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura,” Gatchalian added.

(The objective is clear: to strengthen transparency, tighten discipline in the spending of funds, and intensify the monitoring of infrastructure projects.)

In July 2024, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12009, also known as the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), which amended the two-decade-old Government Procurement Reform Act.

The NGPA aims to modernize government procurement by closing loopholes that enable corruption, potentially saving taxpayer money and improving the quality of public service delivery.

The law also seeks to speed up procurement activities by shortening the processing period from 90 days to 60 days—from the opening of bids to the awarding of contracts.

“It bears noting that a transparent, effective, and efficient government procurement system ensures that public funds are spent judiciously to maximize value for money in the delivery of public services and enhance accountability in the use of public funds,” the resolution read.—MCG, GMA Integrated News