PS-PhilGEPS Conducts 3rd Workshop with Merchants

The Procurement Service – PhilGEPS (PS-PhilGEPS) conducted the 3rd Workshop with Merchants with the theme “Opportunities to Build Partnerships” on December 10, 2018 at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

The annual workshop aims to encourage suppliers to participate in bidding activities by informing them of the latest policies, procedures, and opportunities in the PS-PhilGEPS. This is also the avenue for suppliers to provide inputs and discuss concerns and challenges which they encounter on a daily basis in dealing with the PS. Consequently, these feedbacks will aid the PS-PhilGEPS in improving its operations and service delivery. The event was graced also by new merchants with whom PS envisions to partner with for the supply of common supplies and equipment (CSE) requirement of the whole of government as well as the non-CSE requirements of certain government agencies.

^{3rd Workshop with Merchants}

PS-PhilGEPS Executive Director Bingle B. Gutierrez formally opened the workshop by giving the welcome remarks and the objectives of the program. At the same time, Director Gutierrez expressed gratitude to the suppliers who attended the event.

^{PS-PhilGEPS Executive Director Bingle B. Gutierrez}

Ms. Leah Valdez, Chief of Marketing and Sales Division, provided presentations on the items procured by PS in 2018 and provided a sneak peek into the items to be procured for 2019. Ms. Valdez emphasized the quantities for the 2019 requirements for CSE was the result of the aggregated Annual Procurement Program for CSE submitted by more than 7,500 government procuring entities.

^{Ms. Leah Nimfa Valdez, Chief of PS-PhilGEPS Marketing and Sales Division}

The PhilGEPS (www.philgeps.gov.ph) is the government online portal which contains centralized information of all procurement projects posted by all government procuring entities. As the website undergoes constant development and improvement, PhilGEPS Director Rosa Maria Clemente presented the Modernized PhilGEPS (MGeps) and the Virtual Store which will host the online CSE ordering facility for the PS.

^{PhilGEPS Director Rosa Maria Clemente}

Atty. Rowena Candice Ruiz, Director of the Government Procurement Policy Board – Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO), delivered the keynote speech in behalf of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno. The GPPB-TSO is known to be the policy-making arm of public procurement and leads in the formulation of public procurement reform initiatives. Atty. Ruiz provided a comprehensive update on RA 9184 particularly on the Framework Agreement – a new procurement mode approved by the GPPB that will be pilot-tested by the PS in some of its procurement of CSEs.

^{Atty. Rowena Candice Ruiz, Director of the GPPB-TSO}

PS Legal Division Chief Atty. Michelle Anne Recto enlightened the merchants on the current bidding practices in the PS-PhilGEPS. She provided a comprehensive presentation of the policies being implemented in the PS, matters to consider when bidding with PS and the common causes of ineligibility and bid failures. With regard to logistics, Warehousing and Logistics Division (WALD) Chief Arnel Cunanan discussed processes being adopted by PS to expedite fulfilment of client agencies’ requirements which is via direct delivery of merchants and pre-delivery inspection at merchants’ warehouses. This is in keeping with current trends in logistics management, specifically the Just-in-Time approach and PS’ vision of maintaining a lean inventory in its Warehouses in Paco.

^{Atty. Michelle Anne Recto, Chief of PS-PhilGEPS Legal Division}

^{Mr. Arnel Cunanan, Chief of PS-PhilGEPS Warehousing and Logistics Division}

A crucial matter to all suppliers, Comptroller Chief Raul Catalan laid down the processes and payment requirements and lengthily discussed the documents required when claiming payment, progress billing and other finance matters. Afterward, the participants were given the chance to air their concerns and further clarify issues through a moderated panel discussion.

^{Mr. Raul Catalan, Chief of PS-PhilGEPS Comptroller Division}

As a social media tool for the event, participants were asked to post their selfies during the day’s activity with a hashtag “#MerchantsParaSaBayan”. Several posts were chosen by the Marketing and Sales Division staff and humble tokens from the PS were given out to the winning merchants.

^{Mr. Jowell Fortuna of Kingfiles Multi Venture Inc won the 1st Prize for the Photo Contest}

To formally end the activity, Operations Manager Julieta Lozano delivered the closing remarks and thanked all partner-merchants for their continued support to the PS-PhilGEPS. She enjoined new merchants to bid in opportunities tendered by the PS.

^{Dir. Julieta Lozano, PS-PhilGEPS Operations Manager}

The Marketing and Sales Division facilitated the one-day workshop which was attended by around 100 merchants composed of manufacturers, distributors, dealers, traders and consultants.