In a decisive step to ensure that the farmers and fisherfolk directly benefit from government procurement in accordance with theRepublic Act (RA) No. 11321 or the Sagip Saka Act, the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) has approved a stand-alone procurement guidelines to fully implement the direct purchase of agricultural and fishery products by national and local government agencies from the Farmers and Fisherfolk. 

The decision was reached during the Board’s monthly meeting held on 25 September 2025, presided by Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Janet B. Abuel, alternate GPPB Chairperson.  It was attended by senior officials from the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Procurement Service – DBM, the GPPB-Technical Support Office (TSO), and the Private Sector Representative. 

Also in attendance as Resource Persons were Mr. Noriel Z. Cabanela from the Office of Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Department of Agriculture (DA) headed by Assistant Secretary Joycel Panlilio, as principal author and main implementing agency of the law, respectively. 

The Sagip Saka Act mandates government agencies to procure agricultural and fishery products directly from accredited farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives or enterprises. The Guidelines have been developed to integrate inclusiveness in the procurement process that promotes the participation of registered sectors in all procurement activities.

The newly approved Guidelines aim to address concerns through clearer eligibility and accreditation rules, simplified documentary requirements, mandatory posting of opportunities, and fair pricing mechanisms, among others. The GPPB-TSO, in coordination with the DA, has been tasked to monitor implementation to ensure alignment with both the Sagip Saka Act and the New Government Procurement Act (RA No.12009).

During the same meeting, the GPPB also advanced broader procurement reforms by approving the phased decommissioning of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) 1.5 with a full transition to the modernized PhilGEPS by 2026 and adopting updated Electronic Marketplace Guidelines for the procurement of Common-Use Supplies and Equipment.

In attendance were GPPB-TSO Deputy Director General Sofia C. Yanto-Abad; DBM Director Andrea Celene M. Magtalas; DILG Undersecretary Omar Alexander V. Romero; DPWH Undersecretary Eric A. Apayana ; DOTr Acting Undersecretary Marinel Ramos and Acting Assistant Secretary Zenaida B. Bautista; DEPDev Assistant Secretary Jonathan L. Uy; PS-DBM Executive Director Genmaries S. Entredicho-Caong and Mr. Guillermo L. Francisco, representing the private sector;

These reforms are consistent with the vision of DBM Secretary and GPPB Chairperson Amenah F. Pangandaman to institutionalize inclusive, transparent, and efficient procurement. Under her leadership, the GPPB continues to advance measures that empower local producers while modernizing government procurement systems.