MANILA — Malacanang has compelled all government agencies to submit, “for monitoring and evaluation purposes”, their reports on funds transferred to the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS).
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea made this directive through Memorandum Circular No. 38 to all heads of procuring entity (HOPE) of the national government agencies (NGAs), government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCCs), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and local government units (LGUs).
“It is observed that various government agencies are tapping the services of the DBM-PS to serve as the procurement agent for the procurement of supplies, equipment and infrastructure projects,” Medialdea stated in his memorandum.
“Now, therefore, all Heads of Procuring Entity (HOPE) of NGAs, GOCCs, SUCs, and LGUs are hereby required to comply with the provisions of RA No. 9184 (GPRA) and its 2016 RIRR, and to submit to Office of the President, for monitoring and evaluation purposes, a report on funds transferred to DBM-PS for the purpose of procuring supplies, equipment and infrastructure projects as of 31 December 2017,” he added.
The HOPE have been given until March 31 this year to comply with Malacanang’s directive which is in line with the policy of the state “to promote good governance and to adhere to the principles of transparency, accountability, equity, efficiency and economic in its procurement process.”
Section 10, Article V of Republic Act (RA) No. 9184, otherwise known as Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA), provides that all procurement shall be done through competitive bidding, except as otherwise provide by GPRA.
Medialdea explained that the 1987 Constitution provides that the state shall adopt and implement policy of public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.
The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has been hailed for making good on his campaign promise to fight corruption by promoting transparency and accountability in government.
President Duterte has in fact signed Executive Order No. 2 creating Freedom of Information (FOI) right on the first month of his presidency. (PNA)