The Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB), under the leadership of its Chairperson, Department of Budget and Management Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon, approved several key measures during its 5th Meeting on 14 August 2026, conducted in a hybrid format, to strengthen the implementation of public procurement reforms under the New Government Procurement Act (Republic Act No. 12009). Among these were policy proposals developed by the GPPB-Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO) under the leadership of Director General Atty. Rowena Candice M. Ruiz, reflecting the Office’s continuing efforts to translate procurement reforms into practical and responsive policies.
A key measure approved was the Guidelines on Procurement for Disaster-Related Preparation and Response (GP-DRPR), a GPPB-TSO proposal led by Director General Ruiz, to institutionalize disaster preparedness in procurement planning by conducting Pre-Disaster Risk Assessments to anticipate potential needs and plan procurements for disaster preparedness. The Guidelines also streamline and rationalize Emergency Procurement rules, providing guardrails and a practical guide to issues on the ground.
To further ensure readiness, all Procuring Entities are required to maintain a Suppliers List containing suppliers, contractors, and consultants that have been awarded procurement projects by the PE within the past two years. The list will serve as a reference in identifying potential suppliers, contractors, or consultants with whom the PE may directly negotiate for Emergency Procurement.
The GP-DRPR also introduces standardized forms and templates to facilitate faster implementation, including the Emergency Procurement Compliance Form, Quotation Form, Notice of Award Template, and Contract Template. These tools provide ready references for documenting and processing emergency procurement of Goods, Infrastructure Projects, and Consulting Services, while maintaining safeguards for transparency and accountability.
Complementing these emergency procurement reforms, the GPPB also approved the Guidelines on the Conduct of Procurement Activities During the Election Period for the 02 November 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). The guidelines provide Procuring Entities with clear parameters on procurement activities that may be undertaken during the election period, helping ensure the continuity of necessary government operations while observing applicable election-related restrictions. And as a proactive approach, in light of pending bills to cancel, postpone, or reschedule the BSKE, a provision that should the same not push through, the circular will no longer be applicable.
The GPPB likewise approved the request of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to use Customized Bidding Documents for the CY 2026 Basic Education Facilities Fund – New Construction of Various Classrooms in Regions and Clusters under a design-and-build scheme, following technical assistance provided by the GPPB-TSO in the development and refinement of the customized documents. The customized documents align the bidding requirements with the specific technical and operational requirements of the project and are intended to support the accelerated construction of classrooms nationwide.
The measures come at a critical time, providing government with clearer and more responsive procurement tools for circumstances where timing matters, from preparing for and responding to disasters to ensuring continuity of essential government procurement during the election period. Together with the use of customized bidding documents for major infrastructure projects, these measures demonstrate the GPPB’s continuing efforts to make the reforms under RA No. 12009 work in practice, enabling government to respond faster while upholding transparency, accountability, and value for public funds.
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