The Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) convened its first Joint GPPB and Inter-Agency Technical Working Group (IATWG) Meeting under the leadership of Acting DBM Secretary and GPPB Chairperson Kim Robert C. De Leon on July 23, 2026, marking the beginning of his chairmanship of the Board and reaffirming the GPPB’s role in advancing procurement reforms under the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA).
During the meeting, the GPPB Board Members and IATWG deliberated on key policy initiatives, including the proposed enhancements to the Framework Agreement Guidelines, the adoption of customized bidding documents for selected Design and Build infrastructure projects, and the proposal for inviting resource persons and technical experts from government agencies, the private sector, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to provide technical inputs and support IATWG deliberations, among others.
A special session was likewise held where development partners, including the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and representatives from the Responsive, Efficient, and Integrated Digitalization, conveyed messages of support to the new GPPB leadership under Acting DBM Secretary and GPPB Chairperson De Leon. The development partners reaffirmed their commitment to continue collaborating with the GPPB in advancing procurement reforms, strengthening institutional capacities, and supporting the effective implementation of the NGPA.
Included in their messages of support, the development partners likewise welcomed the reappointment of GPPB-TSO Executive Director Rowena Candice M. Ruiz as the first Director General of the GPPB Technical Support Office. They recognized the enduring partnerships established under her leadership since 2018 and expressed their commitment to further strengthen these collaborations in advancing meaningful procurement reforms. The development partners also reaffirmed their confidence in Director General Ruiz’s leadership in championing a proactive, responsive, agile, innovative, sustainable, and efficient public procurement system.
The meeting marked the beginning of a renewed phase of collaboration among the GPPB, its technical working group, and its development partners as the Board continues to pursue responsive and forward-looking procurement policies. Through sustained inter-agency coordination and engagement with key stakeholders, the GPPB remains committed to strengthening the country’s public procurement system in support of transparent, efficient, and accountable governance.
#NGPAReady #GPPBTSO #WeMakeThingsHappen
