Govt to launch online marketplace for procurement of supplies, equipment

The government says this will be like its own Shopee or Lazada where agencies can directly procure from competent suppliers.

Source: PCO

Govt to launch "eMarketplace"

Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman and Procurement Service-DBM Executive Director Dennis Santiago announced that the platform, which will be called "eMarketplace" will be soon launched. This is part of the proposed amendments to Republic Act (RA) 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA).

The GPRA was one of the biggest anti-corruption laws in the country, which was, in fact, recognized by no less than the World Bank as a world-class legislation. However, there has been a rapid transformation in technology over the past two decades, and the pandemic propelled the urgency for digital transactions in the country. That's why our President is correct that we need to make government procurement more attuned to our changing times, said Pangandaman.

Ang PhilGEPS (Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System) may eMarketplace feature, maglalagay po ng produkto ruon ang isang supplier. But of course, mayroon pong mechanisms kaming gagawin para po 'yung produkto na ilalagay duon ay maganda, maayos at kapaki-pakinabang. Tatrabahuhin namin na 'yung papasok na produkto roon ay maayos at mapapakinabangan ng government offices nation, Santiago explained.

The eMarketplace aims to do away with the long, tedious procurement process that has caused delays in the government’s delivery of products and services. This will still require suppliers to comply with identified legal, technical, and financial requirements to be able to include their offered goods in the system.

Procurement affects us every day, not just us the government, but the Filipino people. Procurement issues have an adverse impact on public service delivery. We have also been hounded by controversies linked to the Philippine procurement system. Of our total national government budget, up to 25 percent is done via procurement. So, this year, it's roughly PHP 1.3 trillion. It's a huge amount, Pangandaman pointed out.

Santiago also said that the biggest purchaser of goods and services is the government, noting that 18 to 22 percent of GDP is government procurement.

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Source: Presidential Communications Office