𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗: A highly productive meeting of the Government Procurement Policy Board – Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO) was held on 01 October 2024 at the World Bank Office in Taguig City, bringing together key Development Partners to discuss updates on Republic Act No. 12009, also known as the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA). The primary goal of the meeting was to provide a comprehensive update on the NGPA’s status and to explore collaborative efforts in formulating and operationalizing its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The discussions also highlighted the importance of creating synergy among stakeholders to ensure seamless cooperation and alignment in implementing procurement reforms.
The meeting commenced with opening remarks from Mr. Diomedes Berroa, Regional Procurement Manager of the World Bank , who expressed his gratitude to the GPPB-TSO Executive Director, Atty. Rowena Candice M. Ruiz, and Deputy Executive Director, Atty. Maria Dionesia Rivera-Guillermo. He highlighted his enthusiasm for future collaborations. Executive Director Ruiz also delivered opening remarks, thanking all Development Partners for their support and emphasizing the significance of the NGPA for the government.
Executive Director Ruiz shared updates on the NGPA, noting the need for further support in certain areas. She outlined plans to create a competency-based framework for the 30,000 registered procurement professionals and discussed the importance of addressing ARTA requirements and legal aspects related to procurement delays. Atty. Rivera-Guillermo presented the key features of RA No. 12009 and led a brief discussion on its impacts.
Development Partners actively contributed to the discussions. Several partners lauded the GPPB-TSO’s efforts with the NGPA Microsite, recognizing its role in promoting transparency and accessibility. Mr. Berroa from the World Bank inquired about areas where the World Bank could offer support, raising questions about the target audience and scope of procurement practitioners’ training. He also highlighted climate change and beneficial ownership as key focus areas. Mr. Cesar Valbuena from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) expressed interest in joining the IRR development group, while Noel Sta. Ines reiterated AIIB’s support for GPPB’s IRR activities, particularly in harmonizing bidding documents. Mr. Date Rae from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) inquired about strategies to further promote the NGPA Microsite.
Ms. Juno Cabotan from the Australian Embassy highlighted four key activity areas, including life cycle assessment, inclusive and sustainable procurement, and gender equality. Ms. Jennifer Crow from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) emphasized their commitment to sustainability, transparency, and professionalization, mentioning their BEACON project focused on innovation and technology in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology. Ms. Mart Khaltatpurev from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) discussed their action plan for sustainable procurement, gender procurement, and digitalization, expressing eagerness to join the IRR development.
The meeting underscored the collaborative spirit between the GPPB-TSO and its Development Partners, aiming to ensure the effective implementation of the NGPA. The GPPB looks forward to continued partnerships and support in advancing procurement reforms in the Philippines.
Get the latest updates on NGPA via the GPPB TSO website (www.gppb.gov.ph) and NGPA Microsite ( https://ngpa.gppb.gov.ph/).