DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah “Mina” F. Pangandaman highlighted the groundbreaking nature of the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), which was designed to enhance efficiency, ensure high-quality outcomes, and strengthen anti-corruption measures in public sector initiatives.
“Ito pong bagong procurement na ‘to, hindi na po mangyayari ‘yang Pharmally na ‘yan. While we made it a little flexible in doing the procurement process, there are still safeguards,” assured Secretary Mina during an interview with esteemed journalist Marichu Villanueva at the weekly forum “Kapihan sa Manila Bay.”
She further explained, “Nung in-amend po natin ang procurement act, kasama po natin ang ating mga development partners like World Bank, ADB (Asian Development Bank) and now the UN (United Nations) as part of our group working on our IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations).”
The NGPA or Republic Act (RA) No. 12009, was signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on July 20, 2024. Secretary Mina regarded it as “the most significant anti-graft and corruption law in modern history.”
As the chairperson of the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB), Secretary Pangandaman continued to provide updates on the progress of the NGPA reforms.
She noted that the drafting of the IRRs is a meticulous process due to the complexity and variety of the new procurement modalities introduced under the NGPA, stating, “Marami pong IRR ang kailangan gawin dito kase maraming bagong modalities ng pagpo-procure ang i-dinagdag natin… We have a technical staff o TSO (Technical Support Office). Nagsisimula na po tayo i-finalize ‘yung mga corresponding IRRs don sa mga bago nating modes of procurement.”
The NGPA establishes several innovative procurement approaches to provide greater flexibility to procuring entities, tailored to their specific needs. These include competitive dialogue, unsolicited offers with bid matching, direct acquisition, direct sales, and direct procurement for science, technology, and innovation. These methods are designed to streamline processes and better align with the diverse requirements of various projects.
One of the significant shifts under the new law is the move away from the traditional focus on cost alone. “Hindi na po kailangan mura. Dati po ‘di ba laging mura nalang dapat? Ngayon pwede na din po based on technical specifications and quality,” Secretary Pangandaman added.
Another major advancement that the budget secretary underscored is the ongoing digitalization effort within the procurement system. “For Common-Use Supplies and eventually kahit hindi po common-use, meron na po tayong ‘add to cart,’” mentioned Sec. Mina.
“Hopefully by this year, makapag-pilot tayo for vehicles sa national government. Kasi po napakalaking budget po ang nakalaan para sa pagbili ng mga vehicles for national government use. Kapag ginawa mo yang common-use at nilagay mo sa isang site, ‘di ba mas madali po mamili? Andun na ‘yung specifications,” she elaborated.
“The PS-DBM will make sure na ang papasok do’n sa site na ‘yon ay okay na mga manufacturers. So, wala kang problema sa quality ng mga bibili. At makakapili ka po based on your budget and needs,” the DBM Secretary said.
Secretary Pangandaman also emphasized the inclusion of citizen participation in the procurement process, a key component of the Open Government Partnership, which she actively supports. “I am pushing for open government partnership, so nandiyan din po ‘yung citizens participation. It’s a new provision po in the procurement na sa mga BAC po natin pagnagpapa-procure po tayo, meron pong representative ang ating private sector, ang CSOs (Civil Society Organizations) natin,” she clarified.
These representatives, chosen by the respective agencies, will play a crucial role in guaranteeing the integrity of the procurement process. “Pwede po sila maupo for transparency, [The representatives are] at least five to seven,” the DBM Sec. Pangandaman explained.
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