Marcos urges Senate to pass the Government Procurement Reform Act

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Photo from Bongbong Marcos’ Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. saw the need to immediately enact Senate Bill No. 2593, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.

In a letter addressed to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Marcos believed the need to facilitate the passage of this important piece of legislation is imperative in order to address the tedious and prolonged procedure in the public procurement and the need for procurement efficacy.

“The bill will also remedy the public emergency caused by the gaps in public spending, which hamper the ability of the government to deliver substantial services to the people,” Marcos added.

READ: New government procurement reform bill advances

The letter was copy-furnished to House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Meanwhile, SBN 2593 under Committee Report No. 214 was recently sponsored by Senator Sonny Angara at the Senate plenary. The bill is currently pending on second reading.

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According to Angara, the ongoing effort to amend the two decades-old Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA) will result in greater efficiency in the implementation of projects, purchase of goods, and possibly eliminating avenues for corruption in the Philippines.

Among the amendments being pursued in the current review of the GPRA is the requirement for agencies to institute better planning and early procurement activities “since a lot of the failures in the process are a result of poor planning.”

Angara said the enactment of the GPRA reform will not only “speed up” the country’s procurement processes, but will also make it “more effective.”