THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM), led by Secretary and Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Chairperson Amenah Pangandaman, has approved the revised GPPB Resolution No. 06-2024.
This resolution introduces the guidelines for the pilot implementation of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) eMarketplace, signaling a significant milestone in the government’s digitalization efforts.
“Tuloy na tuloy na po ang ‘add to cart’ sa ating government procurement systems! Sa paglabas po ng bagong guidelines, uusad na po tayo sa trial phase ng ating eMarketplace. Masaya po tayo sa progreso ng ating digitalization efforts para sa procurement systems, lalo na’t ilang buwan pa lang po noong maisabatas ang NGPA,” Pangandaman announced.
Key Features of the eMarketplace
The pilot phase will focus on testing common-use supplies and equipment (CSE), including motor vehicles, airline tickets, cloud computing services, and software licenses.
These categories were selected to ensure a controlled and measurable environment for evaluating the platform’s efficiency.
Each CSE item will undergo rigorous validation by the Procurement Service (PS)-DBM to confirm technical compliance and readiness for inclusion in the platform.
Developed through extensive consultations with government agencies and stakeholders, the guidelines aim to align the eMarketplace’s features with practical user needs.
Among the agencies and groups contributing to the guidelines were the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of National Defense (DND), and the private sector.
Streamlining Procurement with New Tools
The eMarketplace introduces several innovations:
Electronic Signatures and Payments: These will simplify the procurement process and reduce delays.
Automated System for Requests: An online system will handle submissions and processing to minimize paperwork and ensure faster transactions.
Flexibility in Sourcing: Provisions will allow agencies to source items from other suppliers in specific circumstances, such as stock unavailability or when alternative options are more efficient or cost-effective.
To ensure smooth adoption, the PS-DBM will provide detailed training modules and ongoing support for users, equipping government entities with the skills to navigate the platform effectively.
Monitoring and Feedback
A review mechanism has been established to evaluate the pilot’s performance. The PS-DBM will submit reports to the GPPB to assess system efficiency and refine the platform further based on feedback.
A Step Toward Modernization
The eMarketplace is part of the reforms under Republic Act (RA) No. 12009, or the New Government Procurement Act, signed into law on July 20, 2024. The law aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in government procurement processes.
Through the PhilGEPS eMarketplace, the government seeks to centralize procurement activities, improve accessibility, and uphold transparency under a robust legal framework.
With the pilot phase underway, the government takes another crucial step toward modernizing its procurement systems to meet the demands of a digital economy.