Speaker Romualdez hails ‘new era of transparency’ with new gov’t procurement law

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Saturday praised President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. for signing into law the New Government Procurement Act (R.A. 12009), calling it a significant step toward enhancing transparency, efficiency, and good governance in public procurement.

“This legislation ushers in a new era of transparency, integrity, and accountability in our government’s procurement processes. It reflects our unwavering commitment to the Filipino people to ensure that every peso is spent wisely and responsibly,” Speaker Romualdez said.

The revised legislation, which updates Republic Act No. 9184, aims to strengthen the integrity and accountability of government procurement processes by promoting transparency, competitiveness, efficiency, proportionality, accountability, public monitoring, procurement professionalization, sustainability, and value for money.

Speaker Romualdez expressed his strong support for the law as he underscored its role in ensuring the effective and responsible use of government funds.

“The signing of the New Government Procurement Act is a landmark achievement in our commitment to uphold good governance and transparency in government transactions,” said the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives.

“This law will streamline and standardize procurement processes, making them more transparent and efficient, and ensuring that public funds are spent wisely and judiciously,” he pointed out.

The law applies to procurements by all branches and instrumentalities of the national government, including departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, state universities and colleges (SUCs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), government financial institutions (GFIs), and local government units (LGUs).

It covers the procurement of goods, infrastructure projects, and consulting services, regardless of whether funds are sourced locally or internationally.

Key features of the revised law include the standardization of procurement processes and forms, requirements for proper planning and budget compliance, and mandates for detailed engineering investigations and surveys before bidding on infrastructure projects.

It also introduces provisions for market scoping, lifecycle assessment, and the use of framework agreements and pooled procurement to achieve economies of scale.

“The revised Act introduces essential safeguards to ensure that procurement activities are conducted with the highest standards of integrity and accountability,” Speaker Romualdez said.

He said that mandating transparency measures, such as video recording and livestreaming of procurement conferences, “fosters a culture of openness and public trust.”

Speaker Romualdez also emphasized the importance of professionalizing government procurement practitioners, a key component of the revised law.

“Building a cadre of skilled and ethical procurement professionals is crucial in maintaining the integrity of our procurement system,” he said.

According to the House chief, the revised government procurement law serves as “a testament to our unwavering commitment to reforming and improving our government systems for the benefit of the Filipino people.”

“This law not only enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of procurement processes but also ensures that government transactions are conducted with the highest standards of integrity,” he added. “It addresses long-standing issues of corruption and mismanagement by introducing stringent measures for transparency and accountability.”

The Speaker commended President Marcos and all those who worked tirelessly to bring this important legislation to fruition.

“Their dedication and hard work have resulted in a law that will significantly impact how we conduct government business, ensuring that public funds are used judiciously and for the greatest benefit of our citizens,” he said.

He added, “Together, we are paving the way for a more transparent, accountable, and efficient government. This Act sets a new benchmark for public procurement, reflecting our collective resolve to serve the Filipino people with honesty and dedication. It is a crucial step towards building a government that the public can trust and rely on.”