The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Southern Leyte district engineering office has fully adopted the amended procurement system designed to enhance transparency and prevent wastage of government funds.
District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia said the field office started the implementation of the revised procurement policy last month after their key official attended the 10-day seminar workshop at the DPWH regional office in Palo, Leyte.
“The process makes it more transparent and competitive on top addressing delays, overruns, substandard works, conflicting interpretations, procedural lapses, and corruption,” Junia said.
The policy is printed in the new DPWH Procurement Manual published mid last year.
Revisions were made in some parts of the existing policies and rules of the procurement system, such as in posting of invitation to bid on newspaper, bid security and shopping threshold.
Under new rules, invitation to bid for goods above P10 million, infrastructure above P15 million, and consultancy services above P5 million should be published in a newspaper of nationwide circulation.
“This would surely avoid delays, thus, accomplishing more projects within the deadline,” Junia added.
The amendments made are in line with the commitment of the Philippine government to promote good governance and its efforts to adhere to the principles of transparency, accountability, equity, efficiency, and economy in its procurement procedures.
The procurement policy is based on the 2016 revised implementing rules and regulations, promulgated pursuant to Section 75 of Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.”
The law prescribes the necessary rules and regulations for the modernization, standardization, and regulation of the procurement activities of the Philippine government.