The government procurement process under the new online platform initiated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would be shortened and less costly, bolstering the national digitalization thrust, according to the Department of Budget and Management.
It may be completed in as fast as three days, Dennis Santiago, Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) Executive Director, said Tuesday.
“So sa e-Marketplace po, hindi na kailangan umupo iyong Bids and Awards Committee doon where the procuring entity, basically through perhaps their procurement service or let’s say their admin service, will have to go to the e-Marketplace to conduct the procurement itself,” Santiago said in a press briefing in Malacañang.
“Iyong 26 calendar days mo or 136 calendar days for the procurement of goods, mapapaikli mo talaga siya. Say, perhaps, longest one week; shortest, three days to be able to procure,” he added.
Electronic-Marketplace or e-Marketplace is a digital platform that facilitates buying and selling activities between multiple buyers and sellers. It serves as a virtual marketplace where transactions and interactions occur electronically.
The internet-based procurement method was approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during a sectoral meeting on Tuesday.
“Now, with the e-Marketplace, you have products already in the system. Then the government procuring entities will have to select from those products and then already make an order right there and then,” Santiago said.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the e-Marketplace, which is similar to popular e-commerce platforms like Lazada, Amazon and Shopee, is part of the Marcos administration’s efforts to digitalize the government’s procurement system. She said it will address concerns on the procurement process which has been identified as the biggest bottleneck in budget utilization of agencies.
In addition to the shortened procurement process, PS-DBM also sees cuts in government expenses.
“Maybe, eight to fifteen percent ang matitipid ng gobyerno doon po sa paggamit ng e-Marketplace,” Santiago said.
“Doon lamang sa cost na ginugugol ng gobyerno kada procurement activity or kada procurement process, not even on the price yet, [may savings na] considering the discounts that you will get from bulk procurement or bulk acquisition,” Santiago added.*PND*
