Department heads and procurement officers of the Pasig City local government attended a training seminar on RA No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and its revised implementing rules and regulations as part of its efforts in ensuring that the city remains corruption-free.
The three-day event was held on March 30-31 and April 3 at Rizal High School.
According to the Pasig Public Information Office (PIO), the speakers discussed important information about Government Procurement Process such as Basics Procurement; Procurement Planning and Budget Linkage; Preparation of Cost Estimates; Preparation of Technical Specifications, Scope of Works, Terms of Reference; Procurement Monitoring; Green Public Procurement; and Penal, Civil, and Administrative Provisions of RA 9184.
"Layunin nito na mahasa at mapaghusay ang kaalaman at kakayahan ng procurement officers upang masiguro na tama, maayos, at naaayon sa Government Procurement Process ang pamamaraan ng pag-procure ng mga kinakailangang kagamitan at serbisyo ng bawat departamento/opisina ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Pasig (This training aims to improve the knowledge and capabilities of our procurement officers to ensure that all procedures in procuring essential equipment and services for each department or office in the city government of Pasig are correct and abide by the Government Procurement Process)," the PIO said.
Under his administration, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto created various programs and initiatives aimed at curbing corruption and eradicating red-tape in the city government. He also spearheaded systems that urge the public to become proactive in reporting irregularities or corruption in the city government.
In 2019, Sotto launched "Ugnayan sa Pasig,” an information and feedback mechanism for the public as the local government recognized the importance of the public’s right to information. People can also report complaints of irregularities and grievances through the Ugnayan.
The creation of the transparency of complaints unit was made possible through the city's landmark Ordinance No. 37 or the Pasig Transparency Mechanism Ordinance of 2018, passed by Sotto who was then a first-term councilor.
The local government has also partnered with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to eradicate bureaucratic red tape in the local government.