The Government Procurement Policy Board – Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO) formally signed a series of Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) with partner State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) across the country to strengthen procurement education and accelerate the rollout of the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), or Republic Act No. 12009
The signing ceremony, held at the GPPB-TSO Building and simultaneously via Zoom last October 13, 2025, gathered university presidents and representatives from higher education institutions who will serve as key regional partners for the NGPA Training Caravan — a nationwide capacity development program aimed at ensuring a smooth and inclusive transition to the new procurement framework.
The MOA was signed with the following institutions representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao:
- Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)
- Cavite State University (CvSU)
- West Visayas State University (WVSU)
- University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP)
- Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU)
- Mindanao State University (MSU)
- Kalinga State University (KSU)
- Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM)
- Palawan State University (PSU)
- Cagayan State University (CSU)
- Bicol University (BU)
- Central Luzon State University (CLSU)
- University of the Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB)
- Cebu Normal University (CNU)
- Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU)
These institutions will act as regional training hubs, expanding the reach of the NGPA Caravan and nurturing local procurement expertise aligned with national standards of transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
The signing forms part of GPPB-TSO’s multi-frontal approach to capacity development—mobilizing higher education institutions, government agencies, and local stakeholders to professionalize procurement practices across all levels of government.
Recognizing the magnitude of the nationwide training requirement under the new law, the GPPB-TSO continues to broaden its network of partners beyond the initial 15 SUCs. The goal is to establish a sustained and scalable learning ecosystem, where universities, training institutes, and regional entities can co-deliver NGPA-aligned programs and share expertise in advancing procurement reform.
Through these agreements, the GPPB-TSO and its partners will jointly conduct NGPA Caravan training programs to strengthen the competencies of procurement practitioners, end-users, suppliers, and observers nationwide.
The initiative supports the Whole-of-Government Approach under Section 109 of RA 12009, which mandates all government entities to allocate resources for the continuous training of procurement personnel—including Bids and Awards Committees (BACs), Secretariats, Technical Working Groups (TWGs), and Heads of Procuring Entities (HoPEs).
The initiative reflects the broader vision of Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, Chairperson of the GPPB, to create a transparent, accountable, and efficient public procurement system that supports inclusive national development. Secretary Pangandaman has repeatedly emphasized that procurement reform is not only about compliance but about nation-building through professionalism, integrity, and innovation.
Following the signing, partner SUCs will begin implementing localized NGPA Caravan sessions in coordination with GPPB-TSO’s Capacity Development Division. About the NGPA Caravan
The NGPA Caravan is a flagship initiative of the Government Procurement Policy Board-Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO) that brings the New Government Procurement Act (RA 12009) closer to procurement practitioners across the country through targeted capacity-building sessions, technical briefings, and regional collaborations. The Caravan embodies the government’s thrust toward professionalizing procurement, promoting ethical standards, and mainstreaming inclusive and sustainable procurement practices nationwide.