The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB), represented by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, and the Procurement Service–Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM), represented by Executive Director (ED) Genmaries “Gen” Entredicho-Caong, inked a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) on September 29, 2026, at the DBM Boncodin Hall, reaffirming their commitment to transparency and accountability in government procurement.
The DSA establishes a structured framework, compliant with existing procurement and data privacy laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines, for the secure sharing of procurement data, including relevant reportorial documents of registered Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) users. The agreement is intended to eliminate delays caused by manual document requests when accessing procurement-related information through PhilGEPS, while ensuring compliance with data privacy laws and regulations.
In her opening remarks, ED Genmaries Entredicho-Caong emphasized, “When our public database systems are interconnected and interoperable, we rally to foster an environment where integrity thrives, and corruption finds no refuge.”
Under the agreement, authorized OMB investigators may access a comprehensive scope of procurement data, including datasets covering supplier and merchant registration, uploaded General Information Sheets (GIS), beneficial ownership (BO) information, buyer profiles, participation history, and lifecycle documents such as bids, awards, and contracts.
OMB Remulla recognized the PS-DBM’s efforts in facilitating secure and lawful access to procurement information, saying, “PS-DBM saw that the Ombudsman needed faster access to procurement data, and it built a way to provide that access securely, lawfully, and with the rights of data subjects protected.”
“The whole point of this agreement is to make the world smaller for those who abuse the system,” he added.
DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert de Leon likewise underscored the importance of making procurement information readily accessible through the PS-DBM’s Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS), the primary engine through which public procurement activities are conducted nationwide. “Sa madaling salita: tamang impormasyon, sa tamang institusyon, sa tamang panahon. Because when it comes to accountability, speed matters—but evidence matters even more.”
Signing as witnesses alongside ED Gen and OMB Remulla were Assistant Ombudsman Luis Gonzaga Bonoan Jr. and PS-DBM Deputy ED Marlita Dagsa.
Following the signing, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Mr. Christophe Bahuet and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Manager Ms. Amielle del Rosario delivered messages of support for the signing of the DSA, recognizing the initiative’s contribution to transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption efforts in government procurement.
The DSA supports the efforts of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the DBM to modernize government systems, reduce unnecessary delays, strengthen oversight, and ensure that public funds are managed with greater transparency, efficiency, and accountability. LR | September 30, 2026