The Senate on Tuesday, May 21 approved on second and third reading the measure amending the over two-decade old government procurement law, one of the priority measures of the Marcos administration.

Newly-installed Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero allowed his predecessor Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri to preside over the plenary session when the measure was deliberated during the plenary session.

Escudero noted that the measure was largely driven during Zubiri’s tenure as Senate leader.

Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, who resigned as chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, welcomed the development on Senate Bill No. 2593. 

“Naniniwala tayo na malaki ang maitutulong ng New Government Procurement Act sa pagpapabilis ng ating public procurement processes, habang pinaiigting ang transparency at accountability nito. Pakay nito na gawing mas epektibo at katiwa-tiwala ang ating gobyerno (We believe that the New Government Procurement Act will have greatly help expedite our public procurement processes, while intensifying transparency and accountability. It aims to make our public services effective and inspire confidence in our government),” Angara said.

“We worked on this measure for roughly eight (8) months, at times in parallel with our other responsibilities including discussions on the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA); the committee hearings of the Ways and Means Sub-Committee on the rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime; and the proposed amendments to select economic provisions of our Constitution (RBH 6),” he further said.

“One can argue that the passage of this measure is my final act as Chairman of the Committee on Finance during the 19th Congress.  I can only hope that history will look back on my time in this position with favor.  For I have endeavored to do nothing else but to treat my colleagues fairly, to exert all my energies in fulfillment of my mandate, and to do the utmost in service of our countrymen,” the lawmaker further said.