THE PHILIPPINE Senate on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to set up a single electronic procurement portal and allow agencies to buy equipment from electronic marketplaces.
All 23 senators approved Senate Bill No. 2593 or the New Government Procurement bill, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. Has certified as urgent.
The measure aims to streamline the procurement process to 27 days from 120 days.
It will establish new modes of procurement that will allow the direct purchase of goods from suppliers with a good track record, and the direct purchase of goods used for research and development.
Under the bill, procurement conferences and bidding for goods costing more than P20 million, infrastructure projects above P50 million and consulting services above P10 million must be videotaped for transparency.
Representatives from the private sector and civic groups will observe all stages of the procurement process.
Agencies are also barred from splitting government contracts.
The House of Representatives passed its version of the measure on final reading last year.
The bill will set up a Government Procurement Policy Board headed by the Budget secretary that will oversee government procurement.
Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara, who sponsored the bill, earlier said it was crucial to improve procurement since many agencies tend to go for the lowest bidder, which often short-changes the government with subpar goods. — John Victor D. Ordoñez
