The Philippine public sector moves closer to utilizing the government’s official electronic commerce (e-commerce) platform—known as the Electronic Marketplace (eMarketplace) developed and administered by the Procurement Service - Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM)—as the Government Procurement Policy Board approved the guidelines for its pilot implementation, enabling government agencies to “add to cart” their common-use supplies and equipment (CSE) requirements and procure them from reputable sources.
Published in the Philippine Star on November 15, 2024, the guidelines for the pilot implementation of the eMarketplace were approved by GPPB—chaired by DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman—through issuance of Resolution No. 06-2024, dated October 4, 2024, anchored on specific provisions of Republic Act 12009, otherwise known as the New Government Procurement Act, which took effect on August 13, 2024.
According to Section 20 of the NGPA, Procuring Entities shall utilize PS-DBM’s Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) for the procurement of CSE through various innovative and modernized features, including the eMarketplace. Section 40 further mandates all government agencies, including local government units, to procure CSE only from PS-DBM.
Tasked to operate a centralized procurement of CSE for the whole of government, PS-DBM, led by Executive Director Genmaries S. Entredicho-Caong, procures only from legally, technically, and financially capable suppliers, ensuring the acquisition of goods and products of the best quality at the most advantageous price for the government. With the approval of the guidelines for the use of the eMarketplace, PS-DBM looks into reinforcing the fulfillment of its mandate through digital transformation of the public procurement process.
Similar to the mainstream online ordering applications like Lazada and Shopee, the eMarketplace will allow procuring entities to search, view, compare, select, and purchase CSE, vis-a-vis their needs, requirements, and approved budget.
The creation of the eMarketplace was conceptualized by no less than President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., whose directive was to launch the platform this year, after certifying NGPA as a priority piece of legislation. From that point, PS-DBM worked closely with the DBM, the GPPB, and its Technical Support Office to establish the guidelines—the final version of which was approved and signed by Sec. Pangandaman, PS-DBM, and representatives from the private sector and of various government agencies including the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of National Defense, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation.
The guidelines, moreover, identify the pilot products to be offered in the eMarketplace, which are motor vehicles, airline tickets, cloud computing services, and software and licenses. This consequently makes them part of the PS-DBM CSE Catalogue. Prior to the issuance of the guidelines, PS-DBM has been engaging with its industry partners and key stakeholders in a series of consultative and exploratory meetings to ensure the efficient and successful onboarding of the pilot CSEs in the system.
As the agency actively participates in the drafting of the NGPA Implementing Rules and Regulations, PS-DBM welcomes this development as yet another milestone in reshaping the country’s public procurement landscape, with special emphasis on the use of emerging technologies and innovative solutions. By virtue of the new procurement law, and with the institutionalization of its own 12-point Reform Agenda, PS-DBM is all systems go in making the Philippine public procurement more efficient, transparent, and sustainable with the eMarketplace. | November 15, 2024/KR
Read the guidelines here.