Pasay: The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to accelerate procurement modernization and strengthen transparency as it marked the 25th anniversary of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS).
According to Philippines News Agency, during PhilGEPS’ silver anniversary celebration at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, DBM Officer-in-Charge Secretary Rolando ‘Rolly’ Toledo emphasized the agency’s dedication to advancing reforms that will enhance the efficiency and transparency of public procurement. Toledo underscored that procurement is a matter of public trust and highlighted the significance of transparent transactions in safeguarding Filipino families.
Toledo reiterated the administration’s focus on deepening the modernization efforts initiated under former DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, who advocated for open government, digital transformation, and procurement reforms. At the forefront of these efforts is the proposed New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), which aims to align the country’s procurement rules with global standards through digital processes, tamper-proof documentation, increased competition, and robust anti-corruption measures.
The full digital modernization of PhilGEPS, including improvements to the Open Data Portal, is set to complement the NGPA. These enhancements will make procurement information fully accessible to the public, empowering citizens and watchdogs to monitor government spending in real time.
In a video message shared at the event, Pangandaman highlighted PhilGEPS’ role in enabling the Procurement Service-DBM to efficiently fulfill its mandate through tools like the Virtual Store, eMarketplace, eBidding facility, ePayment system, merchant registry, and the Open Data Portal. Toledo also noted the importance of strengthened interoperability features, expanded e-bidding capabilities, improved protest and review mechanisms, and a broader capacity-building program across agencies.
He praised the Philippines’ recent recognition at the 2025 Open Government Partnership Global Summit in Spain, where the country received awards in the Anti-Corruption Category and the Asia-Pacific Regional Award, reflecting the credibility of ongoing transparency initiatives.
Toledo addressed Procurement Service (PS)-DBM and PhilGEPS personnel, emphasizing the significance of their commitment to transparency, trust, and integrity in governance. PS-DBM Executive Director Genmaries Entredicho-Caong expressed gratitude to former Secretary Pangandaman and confidence in Toledo’s leadership, affirming that public procurement reforms will continue to thrive under his guidance.