Budget Sec. Amenah Pangandaman —Photo from DBM
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) launched on Friday an e-marketplace for the government’s central online portal for all public acquisition activities as part of the government’s bid to combat corruption.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, together with the Procurement Service (PS)-DBM, officially launched the eMarketplace for the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) in a ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
“With the eMarketplace, government agencies or procuring entities can now just ‘add to cart’ or directly purchase their common-use supplies and equipment (CSEs ) requirements from competent and reputable suppliers,” Pangandaman said.
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“With only a few clicks, we can now purchase the same way we would shop in Shopee or Lazada using our digital devices, shortening the tedious process of regular procurement from three months to just 60 days,” she added.
PhilGEPS component
The DBM said the eMarketplace seeks to modernize government procurement and is designed to be inclusive, offering opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises, social enterprises, and women-led businesses to participate in government procurement.
It added that the eMarketplace, a component of the updated PhilGEPS, helps combat corruption by verifying merchants and suppliers.
This ensures they meet the technical specifications and budget requirements set by procuring entities.
In a follow-up with the Inquirer, Budget Undersecretary Margaux Salcedo said the PhilGEPS eMarketplace also allows open contracting, making transactions more transparent. It will also disclose beneficial ownership, which is another major step for transparency and accountability.
The launch of the online marketplace is aligned with the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable and marginalized sectors.
PS-DBM Executive Director Genmaries Entredicho-Caong said the budget department’s central procurement has relentlessly reinforced its mandate to ensure a more efficient procurement of CSEs for the entire government, including local government units.
PS-DBM Deputy Executive Director Rommel Rivera said he was confident that the eMarketplace would work not only as a digital tool for centralized procurement but also as “a catalyst for good governance, economic development, and social progress.”
In 2021, PhilGEPS was referenced in media reports and investigations into the controversy involving Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. and the alleged sale of overpriced medical supplies to the government during the COVID-19 pandemic under the Duterte administration.
An independent probe by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, based on data obtained from PhilGEPS and the Government Policy Procurement Board, said Pharmally bagged P10.85 billion—spread across 15 contracts—of pandemic-related negotiated contracts.
IRR readied
The company, which was established in 2019 and had a paid-up capital of only P625,000, edged out other suppliers, including those with a track record in dealing with the government.
The government had already drafted the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the eMarketplace last month.
“Indeed, technology’s transformative power is limitless. And despite the challenges, we have embraced positive changes. But today, we go beyond embracing—we are pioneering. We assure you that the PS-DBM is committed to continuously institutionalizing public procurement reforms to achieve our Agenda for Prosperity. Mag-add to cart na po tayo (Let’s add to cart now),” Pangandaman said.
In July, President Marcos signed into law the New Government Procurement Act to update old procurement rules, making government operations more efficient and transparent.
In 2019, then Deputy Ombudsman Cyril Ramos said the Philippines was losing an estimated P700 billion annually due to corruption, which was about a fifth of the government’s yearly budget appropriation back then. —with a report from PNA