THE GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT POLICY BOARD

Article XIX, Section 91 of Republic Act No. 12009 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations

Organization and Functions

The Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) shall be the central body that sets strategic direction and makes policy decisions regarding all matters affecting public procurement, having due regard to the country’s regional and international obligations, and is tasked to lead the nation’s efforts in advancing public procurement reforms in accordance with Republic Act No. 12009 or the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA). The Board shall:

  1. Formulate and amend, whenever necessary, the IRR of the NGPA, associated issuances and government procurement manuals, Philippine Bidding Documents and standard forms for procurement, and issue policy papers to ensure that the procurement process is streamlined and responsive to the needs of the government. In line with its digitalization efforts, the GPPB shall establish an online automated process to provide timely responses to inquiries related to the implementation of the NGPA;
  2. Establish and implement the professionalization program provided under the NGPA; and
  3. Establish and implement a strategic procurement monitoring program that uses data analytics to enhance procurement planning and evidence-based policymaking as provided under Section 24 of the NGPA.

Under Section 91.1 of the IRR, the GPPB shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

  1. To set strategic direction and make policy decisions regarding all matters affecting public procurement, with due regard to the country’s regional and international obligations;
  2. To lead the nation’s efforts in advancing public procurement reforms in accordance with the NGPA and its IRR;
  3. To formulate and amend, whenever necessary, this IRR, associated issuances and government procurement manuals, PBDs and standard forms for procurement, and issue policy papers to ensure that the procurement process is streamlined and responsive to the needs of the government;
  4. To establish an online automated process to provide timely responses to inquiries related to the implementation of the NGPA;
  5. To establish and implement the professionalization program provided in the NGPA; and
  6. To establish and implement a strategic procurement monitoring program that uses data analytics to enhance procurement planning and evidence-based policymaking as provided under Section 24 of the NGPA.

GPPB Membership

The GPPB shall be composed of the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as Chairperson, and the Secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) as Alternate Chairperson, with the following as members, the Secretaries or their duly authorized representatives:

  1. Departments of Public Works and Highways
  2. Department of National Defense
  3. Department of Education
  4. Department of Interior and Local Government
  5. Department of Transportation
  6. Representative from the Procurement Service of the DBM (PS-DBM)
  7. Representative from the Private Sector, to be appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the GPPB.

The GPPB may invite a representative from the COA to serve as a resource person.

In addition to the powers granted under the NGPA, the GPPB shall absorb all the powers, functions, and responsibilities of the Procurement Policy Board created under E.O. No. 359, series of 1989. All affected functions of the Infrastructure Committee of the DEPDev Board are hereby transferred to the GPPB. The GPPB may establish Inter-agency Technical Working Group/s (IATWG/s) to provide subject matter expertise to the GPPB in the formulation and review of policies, rules, and regulations related to government procurement. The IATWG/s, in particular, shall endorse policy recommendations for the GPPB’s consideration and approval. The IATWG/s shall consist of representatives from the economic services, social services, agriculture, health, education, construction, energy, environment, information and communications technology, research and development, and other sectoral groups as determined by the GPPB, to guarantee that the procurement policies are inclusive and promote good governance.

As a primary aspect of the Philippine Government’s public procurement reform agenda, the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) was established by virtue of Republic Act No. 9184 (R.A. 9184) as an independent inter-agency body that is impartial, transparent and effective, with private sector representation. As established in Section 63 of R.A. 9184, the GPPB shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

  1. To protect national interest in all matters affecting public procurement, having due regard to the country’s regional and international obligations;
  2. To formulate and amend public procurement policies, rules and regulations, and amend, whenever necessary, the implementing rules and regulations Part A (IRR-A);
  3. To prepare a generic procurement manual and standard bidding forms for procurement;
  4. To ensure the proper implementation by the procuring entities of the Act, its IRR-A and all other relevant rules and regulations pertaining to public procurement;
  5. To establish a sustainable training program to develop the capacity of Government procurement officers and employees, and to ensure the conduct of regular procurement training programs by the procuring entities; and
  6. To conduct an annual review of the effectiveness of the Act and recommend any amendments thereto, as may be necessary.

In addition, the GPPB has absorbed all the powers, functions, and responsibilities of the Procurement Policy Board that was created under Executive Order (EO) 359, series of 1989. As such, the GPPB promulgates rules and regulations to carry out the policy statement and intent of the said EO, which serve as the basis for the procurement operation of the Procurement Service (PS) of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and other government agencies. In the formulation of these rules and regulations, the GPPB may, in its discretion, consult the Chairman, Commission on Audit, on matters falling under the functional jurisdiction of the Commission. The GPPB conducts periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of the centralized procurement system as carried out by the Procurement Service in terms of economy and efficiency measured against the following criteria:

  1. comparable prices in the open market;
  2. compliance with established standards and quality as formulated by the Bureau of Product Standards of the Department of Trade and Industry; and
  3. meeting delivery time standards to client agencies.

For the above purpose, the GPPB may commission the undertaking of an independent survey to accomplish this task. (Section 63, RA 9184; Sections 63.4, IRR)

Moreover, all functions related to procurement policy-making of the Infrastructure Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority Board are transferred to the GPPB. (Section 63, RA 9184; Sections 63.4, IRR)

The GPPB is under the administrative supervision of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for general oversight and for budgeting purposes. (Section 63, RA 9184; Sections 63.1, IRR)