Over 50 participants representing more than 30 government agencies attended the first official training session catered to procuring entities conducted by the Procurement Service - Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) on the use of its Electronic Marketplace, or eMarketplace — a new feature of the modernized Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS). The session took place on August 7, 2024, at the PS-DBM Main Office in Paco, Manila.
Poised to serve as the government’s main e-commerce platform, the eMarketplace would allow procuring entities to search, view, compare, select, and procure Common-use Supplies and Equipment (CSE) from legally, technically, and financially capable suppliers.
In her welcome message, PS-DBM Acting Executive Director Genmaries “Gen” S. Entredicho-Caong emphasized that the use of eMarketplace is anchored on the passage of the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA).
“Natutuwa po kami sa interest ninyo sa eMarketplace. We know that you responded [to the invitation] because you are aware of it under the NGPA… We are as excited as you are,” she said.
While the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) has yet to issue implementing guidelines on its use, the system is already developed. For the pilot implementation, PS-DBM will be offering motor vehicles and airline tickets. Cloud computing services, along with more CSE, will form part of the expanded Product Catalogue of PS-DBM soon.
“Habang wala pang IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations), we want to prepare early para once magkaroon na, we are ready,” ED Gen added, referring to the conduct of training sessions among the designated buyer coordinators of client-agencies.
Prior to the hands-on training, PhilGEPS Director Maria Teresita M. Semana provided an overview of the eMarketplace, focusing on the order process flow. The benefits of procuring through the eMarketplace were likewise highlighted, including reduced procurement timeline, guaranteed savings, and improved efficiency and transparency. Dr. Semana’s talk was followed by a live simulation where participants were able to navigate the system as PhilGEPS trainers walked them through the portal.
The session ended with a forum that gathered questions from the participants, and were responded to by ED Gen, Dir. Semana, and Operations Group Director Philip Josef T. Vera Cruz. Trainers of PhilGEPS and the Marketing and Sales Division also shared insights.
With this series of training sessions, PS-DBM gears itself up for the official launching of eMarketplace — a testament to its commitment to putting innovation and digitalization at the center of its public procurement reforms. | August 8, 2024/KR