The procurement system for local government units (LGUs) will soon be digitalized, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Thursday, Oct. 19.

Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said there will be an electronic reverse auction and electronic or e-marketplace which will cater to more supplies if the proposed amendments to the decades-old Government Procurement Reform Act are realized.

“If all goes well, we will soon also have an electronic reverse auction and an electronic or e-marketplace which we will expand to not just common-use supplies but also non-common-use supplies,” Pangandaman said.

The budget secretary noted that digitalization and innovation will be improved to make public procurement more efficient and transparent through the modernized Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System.

Further, the government also aims to adopt a Green Public Procurement Strategy for the procurement of goods, infrastructure projects, and consulting services to reduce environmental impact.

Pangandaman encouraged the attendees not just to work harder but also to help with the implementation of necessary reforms.

“Sama sama po nating paigtingin at pagitingin ang ating mga LGU sa pamamagitan ng wasto at tapat na pagsasagawa at paggamit ng ating mga budget tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas,” she further said.

[Let us intensify our LGUs through proper and honest use of budget toward the betterment of the country.]

She also assured that the government remains committed to updating its policies to cope with the changing times and the evolving needs of the people.

Open government program launches in Visayas

In Visayas, DBM Secretary and Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) Chairperson Pangandaman led the launch of an open government national advocacy campaign that will strengthen public participation.

OGPinas! aims to raise awareness about the PH-OGP, especially at the local level; provide avenues and more channels of communication for government-civil society partnerships; and, strengthen public participation in policy-making and governance in the country.

“It is important for us at the national government and for the people we have sworn to serve that we are able to listen to their needs. In simplest terms, this is the Open Government Partnership,” the budget secretary said on Wednesday, Oct. 18, during a program held in Iloilo City.

Francisco R. Cruz, committee member of PH-OGP and Department of Interior and Local Government assistant secretary, urged LGUs to capitalize on the strengths and efforts of Filipinos toward open government.

“Bigyan natin ang mga mamamayan ng space na magsalita, ilabas ang mga hinaing at mga suhestiyon, bumalangkas kasama ng gobyerno ng mga programa at proyektong sila rin naman ang dapat makikinabang,” he said.

(Provide our civilians space to speak up, address their concerns, formulate programs and projects with the government that they will make use of.)

For Provincial Administrator Dr. Raul N. Banias, transparency, accountability, and good governance are not merely slogans or empty words in Iloilo but principles that they hold dear under the leadership of Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.

The event was attended by The OGPinas! Visayas Leg was well-attended by civil organizations including the A2D Foundation, FCD Foundation Inc., Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other key officials.