I've always believed that public procurement plays a pivotal role in shaping the socioeconomic landscape of nations. As governments balance innovation, fiscal discipline, and accountability, there is an increasing need for procurement systems to drive tangible benefits for society.

This is why I am glad to share that our country, through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB), and its Technical Support Office (TSO), in cooperation with the World Bank and other development partners, successfully hosted the East Asia and the Pacific International Public Procurement Conference (EAP IPPC) from April 28-30, 2025.

The Conference, attended by around 150 delegates from 20 nations, highlighted procurement’s role in enabling sustainable development, empowering marginalized sectors, and bridging global and local priorities.

This year’s theme, “Procurement for the People: Bridging Innovation, Value for Money, and Accountability,” emphasized procurement’s role as a driving force for prosperity, a platform for change when wielded with integrity and innovation.

The IPPC showcased procurement as a driver of innovation that addresses pressing global challenges — from sustainability to technological disruption. It also highlighted procurement systems that translate policy into meaningful benefits for marginalized groups, including women entrepreneurs, MSMEs, and local communities.

I believe that the Conference strengthened trust in procurement by showcasing global best practices in transparency, ethical governance, and integrity. It served as a platform to share practical lessons, regional success stories, and forward-looking strategies that strengthen procurement across diverse contexts, advocating for regional cooperation to address climate change, leverage digitalization, and build resilient supply chains.

As Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who represented President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM), said in his keynote message during the event’s opening ceremony, “Procurement is not just about transactions; it is about transformation.” Indeed, procurement is the foundation upon which nations are built, where economic development is sustained, and where trust in government is earned.

Further, as World Bank (WB) Operations Manager (OM) Dandan Chen underscored in her opening remarks, “In many countries in this region, [procurement] represents up to 20 percent of GDP — a figure that reflects not just economic weight, but the scale of opportunity.” I was then thrilled when OM Chen recognized how fitting our country was in hosting this year’s IPPC, highlighting, “And what better place to gather than the Philippines — where bold reforms have taken center stage.”

On my part, on behalf of the country, I warmly welcomed the delegates, expressing our deep appreciation to the WB for the opportunity to host the second EAP IPPC — a conference that we’ve rigorously planned for to ensure that this will raise the bar and be second to none.

I also expressed our country’s determination, under PBBM’s leadership, to be at the forefront in advancing procurement reforms by sharing our remarkable feat: passing into law the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), a game-changer reform and hailed as the biggest anti-corruption measure in the country’s recent history.

I believe that the NGPA has laid the foundation for a procurement system that is transparent, accountable, efficient, and inclusive by introducing internationally recommended practices, such as disclosure of beneficial ownership information, open contracting, and participatory procurement measures that significantly combat corruption. It likewise leverages digital technology, primarily through the eMarketplace, where procuring entities can just “Add to Cart” essential goods and services, ensuring timely and cost-effective transactions.

As PBBM highlighted during its signing, “the NGPA streamlines the procurement process from three months to just 60 days by standardizing procurement forms and institutionalizing electronic procurement.”

Of course, procurement reforms like this are only possible because of our dedicated champions, such as our colleagues from the GPPB-TSO and the Procurement Service-DBM, as well as our legislators.

Hence, I articulated my hope that through our collective resolve, our procurement reforms will translate into triumphs for our people — from farmers who can sooner provide food for school feeding programs to small businesses that can sooner win government contracts, and to women-led enterprises that are allowed to compete and thereby uplift their communities.

During the second day of the Conference, I signed the Statement of Cooperation with the WB and procurement leaders from participating EAP countries, including Malaysia, India, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Tuvalu. This affirmed the Philippines’ strong commitment to advancing regional collaboration in public procurement for a forward-looking regional procurement community. I also expressed hope that it will pave the way for meaningful dialogue, partnerships, and joint initiatives, inspiring more countries across East Asia and the Pacific and beyond to take part in our journey toward advancing transparent, efficient, and value-for-money public procurement systems.

Beyond budget, the EAP IPPC was an opportunity for innovators and leaders to exchange groundbreaking ideas, forge meaningful partnerships, and, most importantly, create an impact that will ripple throughout the region. As our country has learned, we all win when we make procurement a key strategy in our Bagong Pilipinas.

Thus, I encourage everyone to join us in this endeavor. Together, we can cultivate a spirit of cooperation that strengthens procurement systems and our nation, and more importantly, contributes to the sustainable development of our region.