Responding to the invitation from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Philippines-Institutions and Partnerships Programme Team, a delegation of 14 Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) officials attended a High-Level Requirements Elicitation Workshop for the Codification of Processes Workstream of the European Union-Philippines (EU-PH) Procurement Project on February 26 to 27, 2026, at the Ortigas Centre, Pasig City, to discuss high-level requirements and produce a finalized Terms of Reference (TOR) that will guide the engagement of a prospective firm for the codification initiative. The workshop is a follow-up to a planning meeting between UNDP and PS-DBM held on February 12, 2026.
The invitation also called for participation from representatives across PS-DBM’s operations, including those involved in the Quality Management System (QMS), Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), and Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS), underscoring the collaborative and cross-functional nature of the activity.
During the workshop, PS-DBM presented an overview of its functions, mandates, core services, and operational roles, along with key frameworks such as the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), QMS, and ARTA requirements.
Central to the discussions was the critical importance of codifying procurement processes to enhance transparency, efficiency, and consistency across government operations. The initiative aimed to clearly document and standardize procedures, address gaps and bottlenecks, and align practices with regulatory requirements and international standards. It likewise served as a key step toward strengthening institutional capacity and supporting ongoing digitalization and procurement reform efforts. Activities such as process mapping, pain-point analysis, and identification of priority areas for codification reinforced the need for a more structured and unified procurement system.
PS-DBM remains committed to actively engage with key local and international development partners in support of ongoing initiatives in advancing public procurement and streamlining institutional processes. March 26, 2026/CM