Bangkok, Thailand — April 27, 2026 — The Government Procurement Policy Board – Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO) took center stage at the International Public Procurement Conference (IPPC) 2026, with Officer-in-Charge Atty. Sofia C. Yanto-Abad serving as a discussant in a high-level technical session on procurement’s role in driving jobs, SME development, and inclusive economic growth.
Held at the Millennium Hilton Hotel in Bangkok, the conference brought together global leaders, development partners, and procurement experts to advance the theme “Procurement for Prosperity: Driving Jobs, Innovation, and Impact in East Asia and the Pacific.”
Atty. Yanto-Abad joined international experts as a discussant in one of the conference’s key technical sessions, where she presented the Philippine model of “prosperity procurement”—anchored on Republic Act No. 12009 or the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA). Her intervention highlighted how the country is reshaping procurement from a purely compliance-driven function into a strategic tool for economic participation, inclusion, and sustainable development.
Drawing from the Philippine experience, she emphasized that the most critical reform is not a single policy change, but a shift in perspective:
“The most important shift is a gradual move from viewing procurement primarily as a control mechanism, to recognizing it as a tool that can expand participation and shape outcomes—while continuing to uphold integrity.”
She further underscored that inclusive procurement must be intentionally designed and sustained, noting that access to government markets remains uneven without deliberate policy and implementation support.
Atty. Yanto-Abad’s participation reinforced the Philippines’ growing recognition as a regional model for integrating inclusion, sustainability, and digital transformation in public procurement. Her presentation showcased key reforms under the NGPA, including fit-for-purpose procurement, expanded modalities, and stronger support for MSMEs, cooperatives, and marginalized sectors.
She was joined at the conference by Deputy Director General Ma. Jozzenne Marie Claire M. Beltran-Carandang, who supported the Philippine delegation and engagement with regional partners and stakeholders.
The participation of GPPB-TSO at IPPC 2026 underscores its commitment to positioning procurement as a driver of national development—leveraging policy, data, and innovation to generate jobs, strengthen local industries, and deliver long-term public value.
Also present at the conference was Procurement Service – DBM Executive Director Genmaries “Gen” Entredicho-Caong, who contributed to discussions on digital transformation and the modernization of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS), highlighting ongoing efforts to enhance transparency, interoperability, and data-driven procurement systems.
As procurement continues to evolve globally, the Philippines stands at the forefront of reforms that balance integrity with inclusion—demonstrating that public procurement, when designed strategically, can serve as a powerful engine for prosperity.
