Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Last Nov. 21, 2025, I had the honor of joining the 25th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System, or PhilGEPS—the country’s central procurement portal developed and operated by the Procurement Service–Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).

More than a milestone, the event marked the enduring impact of digital transformation on how government procures, delivers, and ultimately serves its people. For many, PhilGEPS may appear to be just a platform. But for those who have lived through the long, painstaking journey of procurement reform, PhilGEPS is a story—a story of persistence, innovation, and a quiet revolution rooted in transparency.

PhilGEPS began humbly in November 2000 as the Pilot Electronic Procurement System—an ambitious idea ahead of its time, born in an era when procurement was still dominated by paperwork, delays, and manual processes. Its role took on historic importance when Republic Act No. 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act, was passed in 2003. The law mandated that all procurement opportunities—goods, consulting services, and civil works—be posted through this single portal, setting a new standard for transparency in public procurement.

Over the years, PhilGEPS has become a trusted partner to government agencies. It strengthened procurement planning and monitoring, ensured audit trails, reduced advertising and administrative costs, eliminated redundancies, and expanded competition. It democratized access to opportunities by giving suppliers and contractors 24/7 visibility on bid notices, downloadable documents, automatic notifications, and essential market information—once accessible only to a few.

Two and a half decades later, PhilGEPS is no longer merely an information system. It is a catalyst of transformation, reshaping how the government contracts, buys, safeguards resources, and delivers for the Filipino people.

This momentum is further reinforced under the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), which we championed vigorously during my tenure as DBM Secretary. Hailed as one of the most consequential anti-corruption reforms in recent memory, the NGPA mandates a digital-by-default procurement system and expands PhilGEPS’ role as the primary channel for all procurement activities. Without PhilGEPS, the central mandate of PS-DBM as the government’s acquisition arm for common-use supplies and equipment could not be fulfilled with the speed, efficiency, and accountability required today.

Because of PhilGEPS, the government now benefits from an entire ecosystem of digital procurement tools—the Virtual Store, the eMarketplace, the eBidding Facility, ePayment systems, the merchant registry, and open data portals. These innovations have placed the Philippines among global frontrunners in open, data-driven, and citizen-centered procurement.

This commitment to transparency was recognized on the world stage when PS-DBM won the Overall Award in the Anti-Corruption Thematic Category and the Winner of Winners for the Asia-Pacific Region for its Open Government Partnership (OGP) commitment, “Improve Data Availability, Interoperability, and Public Participation in Procurement,” during the OGP Global Summit held in Spain. This achievement placed our procurement reforms—particularly PhilGEPS’ modernization—at the center of global best practices. It was a moment of immense pride for our country.

To the dedicated men and women of PS-DBM PhilGEPS, led by Executive Director Genmaries S. Entredicho-Caong, I extend my heartfelt thanks. During my tenure as DBM Secretary, you pushed boundaries, embraced innovation, and exceeded expectations at every turn. This celebration is yours. Your work is nation-building in its purest form.

To DBM OIC-Secretary Rolly Toledo, I offer my warmest congratulations and unwavering support. A respected institutional pillar with over 38 years of public service, he rose from the ranks of DBM through integrity, humility, and excellence. I know he will not only continue—but elevate—the reforms we have built together.

Now, as we celebrate the silver anniversary of PhilGEPS, we also recognize that the journey toward a fully transparent, accountable, inclusive, and citizen-responsive procurement system continues. Much remains to be done. Systems must keep evolving. Processes must keep improving. Integrity must remain the north star.

And so, I stand firmly behind the PS-DBM and the DBM.

Beyond Budget, I pray that our government continues to use digitalization, innovation, and good governance to uplift communities, strengthen institutions, and fulfill our Agenda for Prosperity.

Together, let us continue building a procurement system that truly serves every Filipino—with transparency as its foundation and transformation as its promise.