Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman has approved guidelines for the pilot implementation of the government’s e-marketplace, aimed at efficient purchasing at the digital platform.
Pangandaman, who also chairs the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB), said the new Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) Electronic Marketplace system is designed to make government procurement processes more transparent and efficient.
“The ‘add to cart’ feature for our government procurement systems is officially a go! With the release of the new guidelines, we are moving forward to the trial phase of our eMarketplace,” Pangandaman said.
To recall, it has been around three months since the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA) was enacted. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the law in July, updating the 20-year-old Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA).
The DBM stated in a Nov. 19 statement that the new guidelines include specific changes to support a successful pilot and pave the way for nationwide implementation.
“The pilot phase will focus on specific common-use supplies and equipment (CSE), particularly motor vehicles, airline tickets, cloud computing services, and software licenses, to guarantee that the eMarketplace is tested in a controlled and measurable environment,” the DBM said.
The guidelines were developed through consultations, prioritizing technical compliance and user needs for government procurement.
These were reviewed and revised with input from agencies such as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of National Defense, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Procurement Service of the DBM, as well private sector representatives.
Provisions enable procuring entities to source CSEs from other suppliers if stock is unavailable or if other options are more efficient, practical, or cost-effective, as outlined in the NGPA.
The DBM stated that the eMarketplace will simplify procurement by using electronic signatures and payments, with an automated system to process requests, cutting down on paperwork and delays.
Coming alongside this move, the DBM said the procurement service of the DBM (PS-DBM) will offer training modules and support to help users effectively adopt and use the platform.
Also, a review mechanism has been set up for the eMarketplace pilot, where the PS-DBM will assess system efficiency and procurement effectiveness to improve the platform.
Further, the DBM said the digital platform simplifies procurement by providing a centralized online system that ensures greater accessibility and clarity within a strong legal framework.