As an economic concept, FTA is an arrangement between or among countries ultimately geared towards opening up markets by reducing trade barriers and allowing for a seamless movement of goods and services. PS-DBM—as the government’s central acquisition arm for the procurement of common-use supplies and equipment (CSE)—actively participates in these technical discussions, led by Executive Director Genmaries S. Entredicho-Caong, to back the inclusion of a Government Procurement chapter in the FTA as pushed for by the Philippines.

If this comes to fruition, the Government Procurement chapter will be among the newest key areas in the PH-EU FTA, which the Department of Foreign Affairs tags as the most comprehensive trade agreement the country has pursued to date.

In one of the meetings, a knowledge exchange between the parties highlighted their respective digital procurement tools, namely, EU’s Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) and PS-DBM’s Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS). During the walkthrough, best practices that champion transparency in procurement were discussed.

Cognizant of the EU as among PH’s biggest trading partners, the PS-DBM is pleased to contribute technical insights that support the country’s position in crafting yet another procurement framework aligned not only with local priorities but also with global standards.

This development is enabled by the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), which amplifies initiatives to explore innovations and flexibilities that bring about reforms in public procurement, such as through bilateral trade and investment ties. | August 4, 2025/KR