Functional Group Directors of the Procurement Service-DBM (PS-DBM) joined Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman in the conduct of benchmarking activities with the Singapore Ministry of Finance (MOF) on March 5-6, 2024 in relation to its public procurement system.
Together with the Secretary were Undersecretary Wilford Will L. Wong, PS-DBM Operations Group Director Philip Josef T. Vera Cruz, and Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) Group Director Dr. Maria Teresita M. Semana.
Singapore MOF officials led by Director Chia Ser Huei of the Government Procurement Function Office (GPFO) and Director Chua Bee Yan of Accountant-General’s Department (AGD) shared programs and activities of their respective offices which aim to streamline and enhance public procurement activities in Singapore.
The meeting served as an avenue to discuss efforts and initiatives of both institutions in streamlining government procurement. It was likewise an opportunity for PS-DBM to study best practices of the MOF as part of its thrust to further public procurement digitalization in our country.
As part of its 12-point Agenda, the PS-DBM is presently modernizing the PhilGEPS platform, which serves as the single, centralized electronic portal and the primary and definitive source of information on government procurement. Among the new features and functionalities of the PhilGEPS modernization program is the electronic marketplace, or the eMarketplace — an electronic commerce platform where government agencies can purchase supplies and equipment. This is a priority program pursued by PS-DBM and is one of the significant features of the proposed New Government Procurement Act.
“We are excited to apply what we have learned in developing our eMarketplace in accordance with international best practices… We are confident that the learning we have acquired will greatly boost our ongoing efforts toward modernizing the procurement system in the country,” Sec. Pangandaman said.