THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) highlighted that the strategic procurement planning section of House Bill No. 9648, or the proposed new Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA), is geared to ensure lesser environmental risks and accelerate climate action.
“On the principle of sustainability, we are institutionalizing Green Public Procurement (GPP), to minimize negative environmental impacts, promote social responsibility, and support long-term economic sustainability,” DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said as she emphasized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s intent to push for the enactment of a new procurement law aiming to make government procurement transformative and more attuned to the changing times.
Article IV, Section 21 of the proposed bill states that during the planning stage, the procuring entity shall ensure that the project has minimal economic, social, and environmental risks or negative impacts during its life cycle and that the goods and services are procured alongside responsible consumption and production practices in accordance with national policy.
Mandatory market scoping was also introduced as part of the project procurement management plan (PPMP) to guarantee proper and strategic procurement planning. It enables the procuring entity to gather all related information on the procurement at hand, including engaging with market operators to get the right information on project costing and all other procurement-related information.
“We will also address the lack of proper procurement planning, which has resulted in gross inefficiency caused by failed biddings and poorly crafted technical specifications,” the budget chief added.
The House of Representatives approved House Bill 9648 on its third and final reading on December 12, 2023.