Together with the officials of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), headed by Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, the Procurement Service-DBM (PS-DBM) led by Executive Director (ED) Dennis S. Santiago formed part of the Philippine delegation to the bilateral meeting with the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) Public Procurement Service (PPS) from November 30 to December 3, 2023 in Daejeon, South Korea.
Through an in-depth forum, the meeting served as an avenue to strengthen practical and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two organizations in enhancing public procurement systems, processes, and procedures.
In attendance for the ROK side were PPS Administrator, Mr. Kim Yoonsang; PPS Director General for International Cooperation Division, Mr. Kim Eungkeol; Director General for Fair Procurement Bureau, Ms. Moon Kyung-rae; Deputy Director General, Mr. Im Heoneu; Director for e-Procurement Planning, Mr. Han Shin-woo; Cooperation Officer, Mr. Jihyoung Shin; and other PPS heads of offices. Along with DBM Secretary Pangandaman and PS-DBM ED Santiago were DBM Undersecretary Wilford Will L. Wong; PS-DBM Director for Procurement Group, Atty. Genmaries S. Entredicho-Caong; and PS-DBM Director for Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System Group, Dr. Maria Teresita M. Semana.
During the forum, PPS highlighted its utilization of the Korean Online E-Procurement System (KONEPS), an internationally recognized e-procurement model launched in 2002. PS-DBM, for its part, shared the country’s digital transformation agenda and other innovative projects not only to meet global standards but also to advance bureaucratic efficiency, transparency and good governance.
PS-DBM is presently instituting its 12-point Agenda which includes the modernization of PhilGEPS — the single, centralized electronic portal that serves as the primary and definitive source of information on government procurement. Through this exchange of insights and knowledge, PS-DBM learned about the key developments in the use of KONEPS which will certainly benefit the country in further improving its efforts to digitalize and streamline the public procurement process.
The event was also an opportune time for PS-DBM to adopt best practices of PPS, in light of its plans to launch its own eMarketplace — an electronic commerce platform and a feature of the modernized PhilGEPS that will enable PS-DBM to identify items or goods and set criteria or technical specifications for market operators to comply with. This will then allow government agencies to choose from a variety of options fit for their intended use and approved budget.
Following the series of productive activities, the DBM, PS-DBM and PPS entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ultimately aimed at improving their respective delivery of public services through international development cooperation; sharing of data and information; enhancement of guidelines and policies; capacity building; participation in exhibitions and educational programs; and, assistance to public stakeholders, among others.
“We are grateful for all the learning and exchange of ideas to explore innovative strategies that can revolutionize the country’s procurement landscape,” said Secretary Pangandaman in a statement, emphasizing that the implementation of transformational procurement reforms is essential in steering the country towards inclusive, future-proof, and sustainable economic development.
The conduct of the meeting between the Philippine delegation and PPS-Korea was also made possible through the assistance and coordination of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the team of Philippine Ambassador to Korea, Her Excellency, Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega.