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Catherine Talavera - The Philippine Star
February 21, 2025 | 12:00am
In a statement, the DBM said the four vehicles under the first sale were handed over to the Insurance Commission (IC) on Feb. 17 at Toyota Otis in Paco, Manila.
Businessworld / File
MANILA, Philippines — The procurement services unit of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) has reported the success of the first transaction made through the eMarketplace online platform with the turnover of P7.6 million worth of vehicles.
In a statement, the DBM said the four vehicles under the first sale were handed over to the Insurance Commission (IC) on Feb. 17 at Toyota Otis in Paco, Manila.
Launched in December, the eMarketplace is designed to modernize the procurement process, allowing agencies to conveniently “add to cart” essential goods and services, ensuring timely and cost-effective transactions.
IC supervising administrative officer Mark Franklin Sanchez lauded the convenience of the platform, noting that what used to take four months to procure was done in just two weeks through the online platform.
Aside from the IC, the DBM reported that the National Tax Research Center (NTRC) also received its order of two motor vehicles valued at P3.3 million made through the platform.
“Everything about the eMarketplace, from its development to its implementation, is designed to be quick and easy. We launched it in December last year, and now, two agencies have already benefited from faster, more efficient, and seamless procurement. ‘Add to cart’ has officially been activated for government procurement,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.
“Imagine, from a four-month wait to less than two weeks! This is the game-changing efficiency that the eMarketplace brings. But this is just the beginning as we continue to revolutionize government purchasing for the better,” she said.
The DBM chief lauded the PS-DBM backed by the unwavering support of the GPPB-TSO (Government Procurement Policy Board-Technical Support Office) for their hard work in the digitalization effort.
The eMarketplace is one of the many components of the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), a transformative reform that modernizes and augments public procurement processes in the country by addressing existing loopholes and inefficiencies. President Marcos signed the NGPA on July 20, 2024.
PS-DBM Executive Director Genmaries Entredicho-Caong highlighted the President’s strong support for the initiative, recalling how he personally pushed for it during discussions on the proposed amendments to the procurement law.
Moreover, Pangandaman said the eMarketplace is just one milestone in the DBM’s digital transformation journey.
“We assure you that PS-DBM is committed to continuously institutionalizing public procurement reforms to achieve our agenda for prosperity,” Pangandaman said, highlighting the agency’s dedication to innovation and efficiency in government transactions.
The DBM said the eMarketplace is now operational, allowing government agencies to begin ordering motor vehicles as part of its pilot program for common-use supplies and equipment.
It added that more items are being added, including airline tickets, cloud computing services, and various software and licenses.
