Ahead of the launching of its Electronic Marketplace (eMarketplace)—which shall serve as the Philippine Government’s official e-commerce platform—the Procurement Service - Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) initiated a peer-learning activity with Indonesia’s National Public Procurement Agency (LKPP) on December 2-3, 2024 in Jakarta, Indonesia to gain insights from the latter’s electronic procurement system.
Led by Executive Director (ED) Genmaries “Gen” S. Entredicho-Caong—together with Atty. Kathleen Rose A Taniñas of the Office of the Executive Director; Atty. April Flor F. Borlagdatan-Vejano, Acting Director of the Procurement Office; Atty. Lyodychie Q. Camarao, Deputy Chief of Legal Division; Mr. Omar O. Bernal, Acting Chief of Marketing and Sales Division; and Mr. Karl Michael R. Espejo, Division Chief of Information Technology Services Division—the PS-DBM team exchanged knowledge and best practices with LKPP represented by Sara Sadiqa, Deputy Chairman for Strategy and Policy Development; Januar Indra, Director for Digital Procurement System; and Ari Sulindra, Deputy Director.
Known as the E-Katalog, Indonesia utilizes such a platform for government procurement, streamlining the country’s procurement process, increasing competition, and promoting transparency. This can easily be likened to the eMarketplace, an additional feature of the PS-DBM’s modernized Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS), which will enable government agencies, including local government units, to procure their common-use supplies and equipment (CSE) requirements in an online facility.
The creation of the eMarketplace is anchored on the enactment of the RA No. 12009, or the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), which reinforces PhilGEPS not only as the main source of government procurement information but also as the primary channel in the conduct of procurement activities.
Centered on various topics, the series of discussions covered an overview of PS-DBM as the Philippine Government’s central purchasing arm for CSE; an overview of the NGPA; and a deep dive into E-Katalog, with emphasis on its operationalization, technical architecture, system functionality, as well as other innovations. The initiatives to engage suppliers in capacity buildings were also tackled.
By the end of the learning exchange, ED Gen and the rest of the PS-DBM team gained a comprehensive understanding of the E-Katalog, identified success factors and challenges, applied lessons to Philippine contexts such as its own procurement reforms and digitalization efforts, and, ultimately, strengthened its collaboration and partnership with Indonesia.
“It is indeed an honor to establish connections with our esteemed counterparts in the Philippines and to learn about your notable progress in advancing public procurement practices through digital transformation and legislative reform… [This initiative] marks a significant step toward strengthening our cooperation and fostering knowledge exchange between agencies and countries,” said Iwan Herniwan, Acting Chairman of LKPP.
As PS-DBM prepares for the launching of the eMarketplace, along with its active participation in drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the NGPA, it remains committed to learning from key stakeholders by creating meaningful avenues for mutual growth and impactful engagements. | December 4, 2024/KR